Busy Week

So once again, there is alot to do and only a tenday until Pennsic, but this time, I am actually getting done!  This weekend, I got my stove's windscreen painted, and decided to paint my Pennsic jewelry box as well.  I have been meaning to do it for years, and haven't "gotten around to it" yet.  So two coats of gesso, and a blended creamy off white coat later, I thought I would try to do a couple of dogs, an update on my coat of arms.  Still not quite as medieval looking as I would like, but getting there. 
I also decanted and triple filtered the citrus-elderflower liquor I had brewing, though the limoncello won't be ready until the day before I leave.  It is pretty yummy, though I am not sure Meghan will leave me any to take with me! 

This week, I finished the pop up sunshade slipcover I have been working on, and gotten a gunna and a short entari cut out.  I got some sewing done on the entari, that is being done by machine, but the gunna will be handsewn, probably at Pennsic first week.  I have a gomlek to cut out and sew, but can't get started until Monday when a friend will be back from vacation to help.  Never done one of those, not sure how, but I am going to find out!  Eek!

I Have Had Such A Craving....

So I decided to indulge it, and make berry hand pies.  Yum.  So I looked around the internet and didn't find exactly what I wanted, and went with what I had...
I took 12 oz of blackberries, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and about 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, and mixed it all together, crushing the berries as it said to do in several of the posts.  LOTS of juice.  I had Pillsbury frozen pie dough, so I cut it into four wedges.  I beat an egg with a little water to seal and glaze them.  Ready. 
Well, let me tell you, it was a lot messier than the photos show.  I couldn't get the juices under control, no matter what I did, but finally decided that painting the edges with egg first, then plopping berries centrally, quickly flipping shut and pressing with a fork was the least juiciferous way to achieve my goal.  Most looked like the second photo of the wedges.  Two were pretty neat and tidy.  Then I slashed, glazed with the egg and water, and popped them in the oven at 350f  for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile I melted a couple tablespoons of butter, and mixed in powered sugar and milk until it looked right for an icing glaze.
 Buzzz went the timer, out came the pies, and on went the glaze.  I waited 5 whole minutes, then transferred them to a cooling rack.  I broke one, it wasn't my fault, I had to eat it.  Really.  Yummm.

Friends and Tasks

One of my heart friends stopped by this weekend with her daughter.... The Princess-in-Training was truly pitiful though. She hobbled in on crutches with a foot cast, having broken a metatarsal on her stairs. Poor Princess. But she also brought her very cute deerhound puppy, 18 weeks old and about 38 pounds!

 

We had our annual rental inspection earlier, and though our agent is so nice, it is a relief to get it done. I also made limoncello and a yummy sounding citrus elderflower liquor. Hopefully I will take some to Pennsic... Though the limoncello may not be ready.

 

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Enjoy Your Holiday, America!

We've got your back....

The Lutrell Psalter Project

 

What a wonderful inspiration for me. Whenever I get tired, I will view a bit of this and be ready to start in again!

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It's That Time of Year Again!

Or getting ready is HARD!

So I decided I needed a way to make my pop up sunshade look a bit less modern... A sort of slipcover if you will. Enter 30+ yards of lightweight cotton in a black and white micro check. Thank goodness for friends at work who help and a place big enough to lay out a 12 x 12 foot monster. The top is sewn, now I need to attach ties and flaps and add the corner drapes.

Then there are the two coolers that need covers, and the dresses to be sewn. Oh well, at least the stove windscreen is done... Thank you Michael at Home Depot! Well, not done, but constructed. I still have to paint it, along with the two boxes... Make that four boxes. But I will prolly only get to paint two them before time runs out.

Oh yes, and Tuesday I need to cut and dry pineapples, and zest lemons for limoncello.... Oh how I like limoncello! And Friday is our annual renters inspection....

By the time I get to Pennsic, I may sleep for the first week! But oh, it is so worth it!

 

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OPSAIL 2012 Baltimore

We went to Baltimore today to see the tall ships.... oh how I love the tall ships!  There were ships from Spain, Brazil, Ecuador, Columbia, Canada, Indonesia, and more.  Of course the Barque Eagle was there, I nearly swooned, and the Constellation.  There were many US Navy ships (and at least one boat) in port at Pier Five, but we didn't get over there.  There was only so much we could do in a day.  The USCG Taney was there, proud ship, last active ship to have survived Pearl Harbor.  And YPs.  YPs!  Any Naval officer knows what those are.... we all went on them at OCS or the Academy, or SOMEWHERE.  Small wooden hulled boats to teach us how to con, how to be a bridgerat... uh, officer.  How to hit a pier....
Then, when we were just about ready to leave, thunder shook the sky as the Blue Angels began to work the kinks out.  Be still, my heart.  When I learned I couldn't get jets because I wore contacts, I was devastated.  Oh, to soar the skies in a screaming silver bird.... okay, okay. Cheap novel now done! Anyway, it was really terrific.  The weather was perfect, the ships were tall and the planes were loud..... A GOOD DAY!

She's a Grand Old Flag...

June is the Month of Mint

 It is time to make the annual batch of sekanjabin!  It is my favorite summertime drink, and I take it camping every summer to my medieval living history trip.  Much better than soda or tea, and tastier than plain water, it is super refreshing.
Sekajabin has many different variations.  More than I knew, and speaking with the Afghan and Persian women in my store have opened my eyes to more. It's origins are way back in the past, probably in the middle eastern region, though the west had a similar drink made with honey instead of sugar.  Has to do with the climate!  

 I began with a simple plain version, just sugar, water, vinegar, lemon and mint.  I will try other versions too, adding saffron, pomegranite, cinnamon and cloves.  Not all in the same batch!

Sekanjabin
1.25 cups water
2.5 cups sugar
.33 cups of white wine, rice, or    cider vinegar
1 lemon
double handful of mint

Bring the sugar and water to a boil, add the vinegar and lemon and let boil gently for 1/2 hour.   Bruise and add the mint leaves, and remove from heat.  When it is cool, strain into a glass jar and seal.  Doesn't need refridgeration, and will stay good for months... if you don't drink it first.

To use, dilute 3-5 TBSP of syrup in a tall glass of ice water, or iced soda water.  Sit outside and sip a little summer sunshine. 

Quilters Unlimited Annual Show

 I always enjoy seeing the creativity of the quilters in my area, but this year I was especially looking forward to this show, since G Street had a booth for the first time in many years.  It looked pretty good, considering how small it was, and was well stocked with goodies.  I checked it out before I went around the rest of the show, which was smaller this year than when I went a few years ago, but quite well set up.  I found several quilts I was inspired by, some to make for the troops and some for friends and for me.  Most won't be the same as what I saw, just similar, but the twister ruler (yes, I did get it) and the X Block ruler I already had have some great patterns already done.  I am sure I will change colors, but I love the red white and blue one.  I think I will do a wreath too, though maybe in seasonal colors for throughout the year... one for spring, one for summer, and so on.  The ammonite quilt I just adore.  Really.  Brings back memories.  Some are even good!

New Toy

New quilting toy that is... it is a ruler that makes doing this sort of thing easy, if not totally instant.  You sew squares together, border them, then recut them with the Twister ruler by Country Schoolhouse, sew them back together, and presto, you get a fabulous quilt! Unfortunately I had to photograph it in the window, from the outside, but hopefully you can get a decent looksee at it.  You can find the Twister Ruler here and see several videos of it in action on Youtube.  Great stuff!  The fabric is the Tradewinds Collection, by Moda, plus a couple pieces from P & B's Toomuchery and Clothwork's Floral Folio.  Love them all.