{blogtoberfest 2010 day 30}

Missed another day yesterday, but at least I've blogged more here in the past month than I have in like - ever.

I'm quilting today. I have the day "off" from the family and I went to town with my mom (her suggestion) to get a pair of boots for Isabel and to get some errands done.
But this afternoon and evening I've been sewing up a quilt top for Sofia.

I have the center seam left then it's done, I think. I'm still debating whether or not to put border on it and if I decide to do that I have to decide how they're gonna look.

I used a free pattern from Oh Fransson called New Wave. I loved the look of it, but all those seams are tough to match for a n00b like me.

I'll have to see if I can live with it otherwise Ill have to do something about it.

We had the best garlic and lemon chicken for dinner and I want some ice cream, but I think I'll wait until the girls are in bed.

They are eagerly waiting for some Trick or Treaters (kids in Sweden are a bit unsure of when to go Trick or Treating and some years we had TorT for three days in a row.) but it looks like none are coming today.

I think a cup of coffee would be nice right about now, and I'll see about that ice cream too I think.

Also, Happy Nameday to my darling Isabel.

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 28}

Husband is home. Finally.

We get to keep him for a week, then he's off again.

No sewing today. I miss it. But I'm saving it for almost all of Saturday.

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 28}

They're painting some machine parts in the workshop at work today.

The guys have rigged plastic around the work area to prevent spillage - but from the outside it looks like Dexter's been here.

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 27}

So the girls were both really good last night. No fighting and almost no bickering. We drove to town to buy my Big Girl new winter boots.
I aimed for a quick in and out procedure and that's what we got. We left the school at 4:30 pm and we were back home at 5:25 pm. I'd call that success.

I got her a warm pair of snow boots. Like these. I had thought size 34 would be enough for her but she thought they were a bit too snug and hurt her toes so we sized up.
She's 6 years old and wears size 35 boots. Silly.

Then I showed her these boots. I like them a lot but her first comment was "They're Big Girl shoes".
I'm thinking they would make a nice Christmas present for her.

Once we got back home they wanted to help out with dinner and I actually let them (Go me!). They sliced up the sausage and Little Sister set the table and Big Sister opened up the can of beans and heated them.

Once they were gone eating they went to the shower when I asked them (Who are you and what have you done with my kids?) and took a quick shower.

Some Robin Hood on the xBox/movie computer later and then bedtime.

I had big plans on sewing buttonholes in the blouse and dress I had made for them, but the machine was in one of its moods and just blew raspberries at me and refused to cooperate.
I'll have to try another evening.

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 26} Turkey

We're having my parents and my in-laws over for turkey dinner on Saturday next week, so I have a bit of prep to do.

I used to make a turkey with a cider and maple syrup based seasoning, but the last three years I've made a brine and soaked the turkey for two or three days, following a recipe of Nigella's.

I don't remember everything about it, but it's water with lots of salt and sugar, orange juice and orange, onions, leeks, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, pepper and a bouquet garni.
Soak for three days then slather with butter or oil, salt and pepper and chuck it in the oven.

Serve with roast potatoes, gravy and side dishes.

I think we'll have pannacotta for dessert. I made some last week and the girls loved it. I put blueberries and raspberries in the bottom and poured the pannacotta on top. But I like an apple dessert with turkey so I'm thinking fried apple chunks with sugar and butter and cinnamon and cardamom in the bottom of a glass then pannacotta on top and a wafer or cookie made from puff pastry.
Oh - warm voul au vents with apples on the side ... and cardamom infused pannacotta, hmm, I think we have a winner!

A few years ago I made Tarte Tatin. But this sounds even better.

Now I just have to come up with some sort of soup to have for starter - carrot soup perhaps ...

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 20}

Ok, so my favourite pattern designer just sent a newsletter with info about a second upcoming fabric line and her new Spring 2011 patterns.

I am so screwed. Credit wise.

{blogtoberfest 2010 day 19} work stuffs

I have a looming deadline at work that I fear I will not meet. I'm dependent on one or more coworker for parts of it and one is out of the country for two weeks, the other is out of the country for two weeks followed by five weeks up north where he's hard to reach. A third coworker was out of the office today, working on site with some testing. And the fourth was working from home.

I have to have a manual written by Friday, and I have only got about 75 % of the material I need, and 50% of the directions I need. Two of them will be back tomorrow, so I think I'll set up camp in our work shop and pester the crew there.

I sort of want to have it done, not only so I meet the deadline, but also because I'll be sort of single parenting for the next three weeks. I need some buffers in case one of the girls get sick.

Next week R will be away three days. The week after that he'll be away two days and the week after that, five days. Not really looking forward to it, but we'll manage.

I have a sewing class on Wednesday next week, but my mum has promised to watch the kidlets and put them to bed that night. It's also her half day at work, so maybe she'll be able to pick the girls up from school/daycare.
I'm making pants for me at the sewing class. I made a toile the other day to make sure they'll fit. I need to add about 1/2 inch on all four sideseams to be sure but it looks good.

Maybe this will free up some mental room to make a few dresses for the girls. At least I hope so.