Keeping Warm

January is National Soup Month. I can't bake, but I can cook and there is nothing better during the cold month of January in the Northeast than a piping hot bowl of homemade soup.

Slow Cooker Lentil and Ham Soup

Ingredients
1 1/2 cup dried lentils
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups diced cooked ham
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
32 ounces chicken broth
1 1/2 cup water
Small can diced tomatoes
Directions
In a 3 1/2 quart or larger slow cooker combine all ingredients. Cover and cook on Low for 11 hours. Discard the bay leaf before serving. Serve with corn bread muffins. Serves 6 Options: could slow cook overnight and re-heat for dinner or will cook on stove top 45-60 mins. (until lentils are done)

And I am mixing it up with sewing new, finishing old, and a little cross stitch surprise.

I love these saw-toothed blocks in the Bonnie Hunter 'Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll' mystery. But after seeing the final layout, I am thinking of making 2 quilts instead. Maybe like the original, maybe mixing them up with something else. Since the project is now 2 new quilts, it will go on the back burner as I want to get some finishes under my belt.

I am on the final leg of handquilting my version of Sue's (Life on the Bayou) 'All Points North and South'. I just have to stitch around the edge of the border and the do the binding. This I'm keeping and guarding as everyone of my kid's want this one, too.

I machine stitched the grass sections and now shadow handquilting houses and trees. My fingers are getting a workout and find my leather thimbles work well with this, not only to push the needle thru but to grip and pulling out. I have some 'shop' signs made to add to each building as well as other embellishments. I'll add applique' hearts where the Christmas version had stars.

This is a little cross stitch piece I'm designing for a special surprise project. This is a "small" version of my huge 21 room house. I've done a few different pieces of our house on the hill, but only in the shortened version. It may be a while before you get to see it in it's finished state. I know, TEASE!

We are expecting a week of light snow, so I better get out this morning to lay in supplies - light could be who knows what lately. But it's a great time to put on my favorite opera, pull out the threads and needles, and stitch away while the crock pot does all the work.
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon