2 Quilts Almost Complete

The heart shaped log cabin quilt above is finished except for the label on the back.  This one will say:  Made by Julie Brunner from 100 % cotton fabric and thread.  The quilt is for Chelsea Brunner who made the first request for it when I posted the picture on Facebook.

The friendship braid quilt is made for Tea Begley, my niece.  It is approximately 3 feet by 4 feet.  All it needs is binding and a label.

Turtles, a favorite family recipe for the Pot Luck party for our Quilt Guild

Turtles are a favorite family recipe here.  They have similar ingredients to the candy, chocolate, caramel and nuts.  This is how I make them:

First you gather all the ingredients.  Then you mix the German chocolate cake mix with 2/3 cup EVAPORATED milk-not condensed milk. 

Spread it in a 9 X 13 inch cake pan with STRAIGHT SIDES.  Some glass pans have sort of smooth, roundish sides, you don't want that.  I use this pan that my MIL got for my birthday one year.  You can get them personalized at the flea market.  Love that pan for a pot luck, you know people we be able to get it back to you.  Instead of the usual pot luck dish confusion.

Put 1/2 of the cake mix in the pan and cook for 6 minutes in a 300 degree oven.  Let is cool completely. 

Meanwhile, melt the caramels in a double broiler.  I tried a new caramel, Werther's I like it better than Kraft. 

Poor over the cooled cake.  Make sure you don't let it seep around the edges.  This is where the value of the straight edge pan comes in. 

Add 1 1/2 cup pecan pieces and 12 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips.  Then I tried this seasoning, lemon, lavender and pepper, which I sprinkled lightly over this layer.  I really like this addition of a little savory to the mix, especially with the hint of lavender....yum!!

Next add the second half of the cake mix on top and bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees. 

I know it's the most difficult part of the process, but, DO NOT CUT UNTIL 24 HOURS LATER!!
 

More baby quilts

More work on my numbers quilt.  It's going pretty quickly.  Should have it finished tomorrow.  Then quilt it next week to mail to mom to have on hand for any of her visiting little grand or great grand babies.

Swim, Bike, Run Training continues for my mini triathlon on September 10th, 2011

I biked at the YMCA for 77 minutes which is 20.5 miles on a random hill course.

Then, I ran for 10 minutes on a treadmill for 1 mile.

It's a punishment, of sorts, maybe, but I have a goal.  Hopefully I don't get knocked off track (no pun intended) and I can attend the triathlon at the Wendell Moore Park in Buckner, Kentucky on September 10th, 2011.

I first got interested in triathlons after watching Sonjay Gupta compete in the NYC triathlon.  It is actually running in 2 weeks.  It sold out in less than 6 minutes.  My race only allows 200 participants.  The NYC race, which is about twice as difficult as mine, allows 3,000!  What an accomplishment that would be!  Hmmmm, who knows.  I like working out and I need to lose weight, so it could be another goal for me for next year.  There is no way I would be ready for that race in a couple of weeks.  But, I will be watching.  Maybe if I can continue the workouts I am doing, 6 days a week, swim, bike run, then who knows....smile.

I wouldn't pooh pooh the one I am entering, the bike ride has lots of big hills and the run is a combination of cross country and hard surface-it's pretty tough too.

Working on a "Numbers" Quilt.

It seems like a brilliant idea.  Fabric is printed with the ending quilt in mind.  I suppose those lucky enough to have an embroidery machine can do that.  Or you could print on the fabric with your printer.  But, this is a nice option, a kit with the coordinating number words and numbers themselves printed on the fabric.  Using prairie points to lift, it becomes a seek and find of sorts. 

The new Harry Potter is great!

This had better win an academy award.  The make up and acting by Raphe Fines, Lord Voldermort, was really good.  Snape was also great.

Go see it!

USA Loses the World Cup to China in Women's Soccer

They were counting the cars in the garages too soon.  So said the commentators about one of the US Women's Soccer team members father.  The nation would buy you a pool of cars...not so, this day.

It was a really great game.  The Japanese had the finesse with ball handling skill.  America scored first then Japan, then America, then Japan.  It came down to the penalty kicks and Japan came out on top.

Ah well, if we had to lose to any country, let it be the one that has gone through so much in the year.  But, they deserved it.  Either team could have one it, it was just their day.