Mother Nature Laughed

I knew I should have taken a photo of our first few patches of 'green grass'. It warmed and rained and washed enough of the last storms 3' of snow to see some lawn (and worry about flooding). Even the wild life was emerging - a few raccoons have been pests in the feeders, smelly skunks brawling, and the lumbering possum, but the old gal had the last laugh. Started with sleet and then snow that must be at least a foot and still coming down.

I'm getting low on the freezer stock ups and used my last packages of corn for my favorite dish.

CORN CASSEROLE
Ingredients
1 pound bacon
1/2 cup butter
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups sour cream
2 pounds fresh corn (or frozen corn, thawed)
Salt and pepper
Spring of chopped parsley
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the bacon, then chop it into bite-size pieces and set it aside. (I hate the mess and smell of cooking bacon so use the Micro-wave brand). Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, celery, and peppers until soft. Stir in the flour, then the sour cream, until well combined. Add the corn and most of the bacon bits and season with salt and pepper.
Pour the mixture into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish and sprinkle on the remaining bacon bits and the parsley. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until lightly browned. Serves 6 to 8

I took creative license and changed the setting of the next BlockaPalooza block for more of a 'floating' geese layout. I just love this linen green.

I finished the HST quilt. The border print fabric is what I used for the backing. I just did stitch in the ditch around all blocks and then the same for all the diagonals - large cross hatch. Washed and dried and in the shop.



The quilt for the Moda Bake Shop Charm Challenge is at the long armer, but you will only get a sneak peek - no unveiling until voting on MBS.

Another 'in progress' - the next UFO for Judy's (PathcworkTimes) challenge. I have almost all the fused pieces hand-blanket stitched. I think I am going to use a mix of machine and hand quilting for added texture on this fun quilt - Noah's Ark.

And a tease of a sneak peek at 'in-progress' monochromatic quilt for the Project Modern - Challenge #2. I need to draft a plan of action for quilting and then this puppy is going under the machine.




SQUARED UP

I have been so busy with getting challenges, contests and swap projects done for the end of this month, that I haven't a project for here. But I would like you to check out Melissa's disappearing 16-patch block. http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/ (quilt along) and she also gave the tutorial again on Stash Manicure today. (see button on side for both)

Also, I want to thank everyone for their lovely comments here and in private e-mails on the new banner. Some of you were 'no-responders' so I couldn't send you a message back - again, to everyone, THANK YOU.

Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon