Life really can be a picnic!

Everyone loves a picnic! This blog is about some of the things I love the most, and the term "picnic" just about covers them all. First of all, a picnic has to include food; simple food that is easy to fix. Next, you need someplace fun or different to visit; a nice, peaceful location. And of course, you always need to take along a good book to read and a well-used quilt to spread everything out on. So, there you have it! Easy recipes, good books, fun quilts along with some interesting, down-to-earth places to visit. You can even take your family or a friend or two if you want.



Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

"You can't stumble when you are on your knees." --Amish Proverb

Thanksgiving is just a couple days away.  It will be nice to have the family all here for the big day.  There really is so much to be thankful for.  We are so blessed.

I read a book called These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner.  It's an inspiring book about a woman who traveled in a wagon train with her family and settled in Arizona before it became a state.  It is in journal format and shows Sarah's words from the time she was young and almost illiterate to the time when she became self-educated and a hard working business woman.  This is a book that goes through the many trials that she and others faced.  It is true to the history of the time and roughly based on a true to life person.  I couldn't believe how hard everyone worked to survive.  We are very blessed to live at the present time.






November is one of the best months for soup because that's when there is a real chill in the air.  This is one of our family's favorite soup recipes.  It's called Cheddar Potato Chowder with Ham  but we just call it Ham Chowder.


Cheddar Potato Chowder with Ham

2 cups water                                                     ¼ tsp. pepper
2 cups diced unpeeled red potatoes                  ¼ cup flour
1 cup diced carrots                                           2 cups 2% milk
½ cup diced celery                                           2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
¼ cup chopped onion                                       1 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1 tsp. salt

            In a large heavy pan, combine the first seven ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until tender. 
Meanwhile, place flour in a large saucepan; gradually whisk in milk.  Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from the heat.  Add cheese; stir until melted.  Stir the ham and the cheese sauce into undrained vegetables; stir until combined.  Yield: 7 servings.






This is a little table runner that I made last year.  It came in a kit that I got from SewN'Save in Clearfield.


This is a quilt that I made for my sister for her 50th birthday.  I got the pattern from a quilting magazine.  It's another quilt that has minky as the backing.

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