Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Tuesday Tales

It wasn't called a nor'easter, nor was it given a name but we certainly got dumped on again this past weekend.  

Saturday was a beautiful day and most of the snow that had fallen the previous weekend had all but disappeared.  Late Sunday morning, the heavy rain started which quickly changed to freezing rain, to ice pellets and then SNOW!  

The winds were blowing just as hard as last weekend's storm, with sustained gusts of up to 65 mph creating blizzard-like conditions...again!  We lost power from about 10 p.m. on Sunday night until 8 a.m. yesterday.  

Thank goodness for our stove in the kitchen because that kept the entire downstairs warm...and to the person who came up with the idea of flannel sheets on the bed during the winter months... a GIANT hug to you because they as well as four quilts kept us warm in bed.

Is there a better reason as to why one can never have too many quilts?


Monday morning...the calm after the storm.
After the power was restored, I decided to bake some muffins.  We had a bumper crop of rhubarb last summer and there are still several bags left in the freezer. I'm sure we'll have an even better crop this summer so I thought that I'd better start to use some of it up.  I was going to make a rhubarb pie but decided on muffins instead.



Fresh perked coffee and muffins...yum-a-licious!

Oh, and there are lots more too!  This recipe makes 18 decent-sized muffins.



Here's the recipe if you'd like to try some.


Rhubarb Muffins

2 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 1/2 C packed brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 C buttermilk *
2/3 C vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 C finely chopped rhubarb

Topping

1/2 C sugar
2 tbsp butter
2 tsp cinnamon

In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients.  Combine egg, buttermilk, oil and vanilla:stir in dry ingredients just until moistened.  Fold in rhubarb.  Fill greased or flour-lined muffin cups about half full.  Combine topping ingredients then sprinkle over each muffin.

Bake at 375F for 20 minutes ur until done.

*If you don't have buttermilk in the house, just add a tbsp of white vinegar or lemon juice to the cup of regular milk that the recipe calls for.  That's what I did.  I also used half all purpose flour and half whole wheat flour for mine.  If you use frozen rhubarb as I did, it increases the cooking time to almost 50 minutes...and they still tasted great!



If any of you are procrastinating as I was about getting an iPad, procrastinate no more!  I love my new toy and thanks to my friend Lesley at The Cuddle Quilter, the learning curve has been a breeze!  A couple of phone calls and I was off and running.  There's still a lot I have to learn but I'm getting much more use from it than I ever thought I would.



I'm really making a dent in my scrap project as well.  I decided to sort through them and pull out all the pieces that I could cut into decent 1 1/2" and 2 1/2" strips and to leave all the little pieces as they are.

Here is the first pile...


  

and this is the second.  



Slowly but surely I'm achieving my goal.



I still have tons more to sort through and every piece has to be ironed before cutting to ensure an accurate cut.  I find repetitive rotary cutting to be hard on my back after a while so I work on them for about a half an hour at a time and then move on to other chores.




I finished your First Friday Freebie for March and now we just have to wait until Friday, March 1st for the reveal.  I had a lot of fun designing and making it. 

The writing and PDF'ing...well, that's a whole other can of worms...and if you can read between the lines, I'm not too fond of worms.  *wink*



Rather than their favorite place by the fire, I found Frankie and Ollie catching a few rays in the family room this morning.  You can tell that the sun's rays are getting stronger when they choose the sofa over the stove.


Move over, Ollie cuz I'm coming up to join you.
 And just in case you're wondering, here's where you'll find me!



Have a super day!


42 comments:

Connie said...

Kaaren, i loves reading your blog, great wait for the next one, every thing look so good, and the things you do. Kept it up. Enjoy your muffins, yum yum!!!!!

sunny said...

ooh, flannel sheets on a cold winter night are such a luxury! It looks like you have plenty to do to stay warm and cozy until Spring. I can smell the muffins....

Radka said...

Ahhh, I can smell your baking!
But I don't envy you the snow, I hope we are not going to get any more.

Sharon said...

I, too, have flannel sheets on my bed in the winter, Love them! I also have a freezer full of bags of rhubard, so I'm going to give your muffin recipe a whirl. thanks for sharing.

Karen said...

You are getting hit hard this winter with snow. And to lose power can;t be fun. But you survived with flying colors.

I remember rhubarb as being on the sour side. I haven't seen any in the stores and don't know anyone who grows it. So, I will just have to take your word that they are good. My husband likes strawberry rhubarb pie but hasn't had any in years.

Abby and Stephanie said...

My first thought is...wasn't there supposed to be less now in your new town than your previous town? I heart flannel sheets. I've used them for 25+ years. I'm sipping some new tea called Orange Cookie. A muffin would be perfect with it.

Janet O. said...

Rhubarb grows well here, too. There is always more around than we can use up--kind of like zucchini. : )
Love the photo of the sunbathers!
I should join you in that cutting ritual--a little at a time and one day it is finished. What a good feeling that would be.

Mary-Kay said...

Your muffins look delicious!
One time I was cutting up some scraps and I did it for 3 days straight. I never finished but now as I get scraps, I cut them up into usuable sizes. I still have a couple of boxes of scraps that I probably will never get to. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Kathleen Tracy said...

I love your PERCOLATOR!! The coffee smells great . . .

Missie of Traditional Primitives said...

Sounds like an adventure last week with your storm! We are expecting it on Thursday this week..6"-12" this go around. Wish us luck! Love all the nice pics...darling pup! Thanks for sharing...

Susannah said...

Your posts are so much fun...lots of interesting stuff. I love rhubarb and I am going to keep this recipe. Thank you. Also, I hope the weather is better for you this weekend. Sounds like you are getting many things done!

Susannah

Bev said...

Love your blog today! Glad you have heat again..I can't wait for spring! The babies are cute as always!

Cheery wave from Bev

Elaine Adair said...

I was "playing around" with the "next blog" we see on our blog sites and landed here in your space! What a bunch of pretty projects, cute pets, and the muffins ain't so bad lookin'! 8-))

Thanks for the visit. I had a lovely time!

From western Nebraska boonies

Sherry said...

I enjoyed my visit to your blog today, as always. I am working on a pin cushion from one of your Friday freebies, I will let you know when it is complete and I share it on my blog. Thanks for sharing your talent. Oh, I cant wait to try the rhubarb muffins.

Cindy said...

The aroma from the muffins was blown all the way over here. LOL

And those winds - are even stronger now - supposed to get snow tonight with bitter temps.

I, too , love my Ipad. I feel like it's the best toy I've received in years. Well, maybe second best - my Bernina takes first place. LOL

Have a wonderful afternoon. Stay warm.

Kathryn said...

Although I avoid the cold weather as much as possible, I wouldn't trade the northeast USA for the southern states, because I'd have no use for all these quilts I make!! Hope spring is early this year, Take care, Kathie L in Allentown

Pieced Pastimes said...

Hi Kaaren, We were hit with the same storm as you. The winds kept me up all night, wondering if a tree was going to land on the house! Your muffins look and sound amazing. I need to plant some rhubarb! Our little dogs are sun worshippers as well and tend to follow the sun streaks around the house.
Enjoy your quilting time,
Suzanne

Kindred Quilts said...

Love your chalkboard message, Kaaren. I'm so happy you are able to stay relatively comfortable when you lose power... it's been a terribly snowy season for you... is this a typical winter? If nothing else it's a fine time to be sorting through your fabrics getting scraps into the right basket. Stay warm!

Sandi said...

I love flannel sheets and quilts. I have a down comforter but sometimes add a quilt for good measure.

Your recipe sounds wonderful, don't have any rhubarb but to make a trip to the market, so I just might see if they have any in the frozen food selection.

Thankfully all our snow is up on the mountains and we have a crisp 8C sunny day. Hope your snow clears soon.

Darlene said...

So much yumminess in this post, Kaaren. The quilts, the muffins, the scraps, the furbabies, Oh My!

Janet-Olde Crow Primitives said...

Thanks for the recipe Kaaren. It sounds delicious.
We have some horrendous weather going here in Ontario right now. It has been so cold. There is a blizzard happening right now.We have a lot of 4 quilt nights here.
I have lots of rhubarb in my freezer, so tomorrow I will be making these.
Janet

Lesley said...

Oh those muffins look yummy! And it has been a pleasure to help you with the iPad...you're a quick study! Great idea to sort your scraps...do I see nine-patches in your future? Enjoy your day quilting!

Sheila said...

Always a nice read , it sure was good you had a stove to keep you cosy during the storm. You might want to brace again for tomorrow , the forecast sounds nasty . Have fun with your iPad , they are wonderful :-)

JudyCinNC said...

Wonderful looking muffins and anxiously awaiting the reveal. Gone quilting - forever hugs to you. Judy C in NC

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

You got a double dose of snow! The second sounds more serious than the first.

Sounds like you were prepared--one can never have to many quilts! While at the local quilt store, someone was making a pineapple quilt from strips. Have you thought about this?

Am sure the muffins warmed the home and tummy.

Frankie and Ollie are just to cute.

Darlene D said...

Muffins look yummy!!! Off quilting with me! Enjoyed the evening!

Candace said...

Wow - what a winter, Kaaren! We can't live without our flannel sheets in the winter! Lo and behold, our friend in Napa has luxury flannel sheets - OMG - I'll be hunting for them now. Good that you had a fire to snuggle in during the outage. I'm sure Ollie and Frankie helped, too ;>) When you're done with your scraps you're welcome to come help with mine!
Cheers!

KatieQ said...

If I was in charge of awarding Nobel prizes, I would definitely give on to the inventor of flannel sheets and another to whoever invented Polar fleece. I couldn't get through the winter without both of them.
I love to see your photos of Ollie and Frankie. They would be great characters in a children's picture book.

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Snow on the ground, warm muffins, and scraps....what more can a gal want.....enjoy your quilting.

Karen said...

We do not get the weather you experience. Growing up in the country we had a gas stove, waterheater, wall heater, and Ben franklin wood stove. As an adult, each time we moved I ask for the same. That has made life so pleasant.
Too bad we can't get a converter for our sewing machines.

Needled Mom said...

Thank heavens for a bountiful supply of quilts. Brrr. I think I would be looking for a place with the sunrays too.

Jocelyn said...

Burrrr..... looks so cold!! Stay warm, dear friend. And keep on quilting :-)

annie said...

so glad you had the stove to keep you warm, the muffins look so good! great you are getting the scraps taken care of, hugs to the fur babies looking for spring!

Robin at The Primitive Hutch said...

We are having that same storm ~ it started to rain yesterday and snow today with high winds and chilly. Love my flannel sheets!!!
Oh and muffins too ~ Yummm!!!
Stay warm and happy creating!
Prim Blessings
Robin

Little Penpen said...

oooh.....lots of snow! Glad you had plenty of quilts!! I'm drinking coffee right now and wish I had one of those muffins to go with it! Stay warm!

Pam in IL said...

My furry family members fight over the sunshine too. Your muffins look so scrumptious. I moved my mom's rhubarb plant to my backyard last year and I hope it thrives this year. The snow does make it peaceful -- until everyone gets out their snowblowers and tractors to remove it.

Janet said...

Flannel shhets in winter, I'm with you! There's lots going on over at your lace, I wish I could pop over for a cuppa and a muffin, I love rhubarb. Hi to Frankie and Ollie, makes me wish we had a dog again seing your guys.

Sue SA said...

Its easy for me to say, but boy I liked seeing your snow pictures! It is 32C here in Sth Australia today and 37C expected Saturday when I am quilting, so the idea of snow is nice and cooling...can you tell I have never lived with snow! Ha just like the idea I am sure the reality isnt so much fun.
I too ironed my scraps and cut them up, takes time but so worth it, as you can then make projects quicker at a later date. I rolled mine up into colour ways, to keep them a bit neater...but a long box would have been a better idea.
Happy quilting.

libbyquilter said...

i've discovered your blog by way of Lori @ Humble Quilts and have had an enjoyable time reading it for the last half of an hour.

i'm completely in love with Frankie and Ollie and it's so sweet to see your frequent photos of them. they are clearly very good friends and i was happy to read that Frankie is feeling better.

i'm not sure what project you are cutting up your scraps for but i applaud you. i've been working at getting my own into some manageable amount for a long time now and although there is definately less now than there once was, i can't believe how much it takes to use them up~!!~

i hope that you will consider popping by my own blog and i will certainly be looking forward to dropping in here now and then to see what you and Frankie and Ollie are up to.

:-)
libbyQ

joan said...

I agree with the "Cozy Sheets". I love Rhubarb muffins and yours look delicious.

Barb said...

thanks for the muffin recipe - yum. I love your green coffee mug (I know there is a name for them, but forget).
Snow is good for quilting!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Flannel sheets- now that sounds toasty warm. The muffin recipe sounds good too- I have never eaten rhubarb..I may have to try it.