Top done....

It's 66 inches wide, and 85 inches long.  Now to get the backing material and get it too the lady who will quilt it.  Should have it back by middle of May.

Now to sort out a partially made quilt top I started ages ago.

Drawing for Art.....

Each year we attend a function called Drawing for Art.  It raises money to hold art classes for children.  Each pair of tickets gets one ticket put into the tombola for the draw.  When your ticket is pulled you get to pick a piece of art that is displayed and donated by local artists.

Here is the write up:

"An annual favorite that puts original artwork into your hands.  Join Station Gallery for another night of anticipation and suspense, competition and delight. Wait for your ticket to be drawn and then select an original work of art from our walls! 

 

Artworks are by regional artists and are valued between $200 and $1,000. Your $225 ticket includes admission for two, sumptuous food and, of course, your brand-new work of art."

To see this year's selection, please click on this link.

I am struggling to pick out a favourite this year.  There are a number of possibilities, but none that I really, really want.  I do find that when you see them in "real life" it makes a big difference.

I like this one because of the poppies, but find the trees very "weak."

This one is pretty but I wish it was a little more vibrant.

This one is a possibility.

Depending on it's actual size I have a place to put this one.

Do you have a favourite?

Here are a couple links to what we got in prior years.

in 2012 we got this one.  This is the piece dd got in 2012, it is gorgeous.

in 2014 we got this one and it is stunning in "real life".  It is probably my favourite piece so far.

For some reason I did not post a photo of the ones we got in 2010, 2011 and 2013?

Happy Easter.......

Our son's birthday cake.  Dairy Queen special, ice cream cake.  I didn't have any as I don't like it.

Chicken scratchings on my black board in the kitchen.  It is a DIY project that dh and son-in-law are doing.  They were working out the in's and outs.  It's happening at their house not ours.

A Calla Lily that we were given on Easter Saturday, very pretty.

A close up of the flowers.

Hope you have a wonderful and Blessed Easter.

Homemade Baked Beans........sort of

 Baked Bean's

 2 cans Heinz baked beans
 1 can kidney beans
 1 green pepper - chopped
 1 onion - chopped
 3 tbsp brown sugar
 8 bacon slices - slightly cooked and chopped into bite size pieces
 Ketchup

 Mix ingredients except ketchup. One layer of beans topped with ketchup. Second layer of beans topped with ketchup. Cook covered at 350 for 1 hour then uncover and cook for another 1 hour. 

This recipe is from dd in law's.  I have always found them a little too sweet when dd makes them.  So I made a couple of changes to the original recipe.

• I did not layer the beans as the recipe suggests with the ketchup.  I only added the one layer or ketchup on the top.
• I cut down the sugar to two tablespoons.
• I did not add the bacon.

Dd says these taste better the second or third day.  I made them on Friday to eat on Saturday.  I had a taste on Friday and found them sweet enough for me.  This is a vegetarian dish if you omit the bacon.  Maybe Jane can tell me if it's a vegan dish as well?

Why I said sort of in the title is that you start with two cans of baked beans in tomato sauce, so it's sort of cheating in a way I think to say they are totally homemade.

It's our son's birthday today so we are having a joint Easter Saturday/Birthday lunch for him.

Happy 31st birthday Son!

Goals and grocery budget

(photo credit)

A lot of people set goals for the year, month, week, day, I generally suck at this sort of thing.  I did though set one goal for this year and it was either learn to knit or crochet.  So I guess I have at least made headway on that goal.

I set a goal each month on how much I want to spend on groceries.   I barely ever succeed in this but I do find it helps me keep to a reasonable budget.

I do set myself a weekly challenge to to do a menu plan.  So far so good in that department.  Don't always follow it to the letter, but it does give me some sense of organization and as I am a lazy cook it keeps me motivated.

I guess I do set daily goals of making sure I get up, dressed, showered every day.  Make sure the house in order and meals on the table.

Are you a goal orientated person?

Did my first grocery shopping for the month of April.  Had a question.  I spent $100 this week.  I went and lost a receipt, so guessed what that would have been, so not overly concerned with the total........BUT.......in amongst the money I spent this week, I paid $24 for an ice cream cake for ds birthday tomorrow and picked up four plants as Easter gifts for a cost of $16.80.  Should I include them in my monthly total?  I think I should take out the plants, but not 100% sure about the ice cream cake?  What are your thoughts?

Dining Room Light Fixture.

We got the dining room fixture back in December of 2014, hence all the Christmas touches.  Again it is a Currey and Company fixture called Sethos Rectangular Chandelier.

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 Again it is both a work of art and a light fixture.

In the living we put two sconces that match the Sethos Chandelier, again click on this link to see a better picture.

It was the glass that attracted me to all these pieces.

And finally, yes we need a larger tv for the top of the fireplace.  Dh and children are constantly reminding me of this.  Me personally, I couldn't care one way or another!!!

Mystery Boxes and Anonymous aka SPAM comments........

Those anonymous comments are getting on my nerves. Luckily you don't have to deal with them as I moderate all comments.  They are missing my Spam file now and mixing in with the regular comments?  No idea what has changed with Blogger.

Remember the mystery boxes from here?  Well all can be revealed.  Actually they were revealed a week or two ago, I just forgot to show you, sorry.

The lights are made by a company called Currey and Company and are located in the States.  We ordered them through a company in Barrie, called Glass Lighting Gallery.  These are the Broxton Orb's and if you click on this link it will show a better picture of them.

We have 11 and a half feet high ceilings in our living room, so I knew they wouldn't over power the room.  The lights from Currey are more than lights they are like works of art.  I will show you the one I got for the dining room tomorrow.  There is a lot of hand detailing that goes into these lights.

Will tell you whether I leave this house on my own two feet or in a box these lights are coming with me!!!  I love them despite the price of them!!