HMQS

Yes, this really is a pieced quilt.

I've spent 3 days at the Home Machine Quilting Show (HMQS). I took a class on Wednesday night on machine binding and on Friday morning on free motion machine quilting. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday I visited the booths and looked at all the quilts.

I took pictures of quilts that I think I have the ability to make.

And pictures of quilts that I will never be able to make.

The quilting in the white blocks makes this one amazing.

Take a close look at this dragon. The quilting is awesome.

I don't know how many quilts were on display but it took me 2 hours to see them all. I bought some new gadgets from the booths and a cute quilt pattern.

Trying to Keep ZsaZsa Alive

Since her overnight stay in the veterinary emergency ER a year ago with congestive heart failure, ZsaZsa has gradually lost her appetite and has been slowly losing weight. I have tried everything from purchasing all sorts of dry and wet dog food to no avail plus I have bought chicken tenders from Costco which she enjoys for a couple of days and then gets tired of it and won't touch it any more. We have tried to hand feed her high protein kibble and vitamin supplements but she just sniffs at it and walks away. Her weight has gotten so bad that her back bone prominently sticks out and feels awful. Frustrated, I have given up, not knowing what to do.

I have found a solution but I'm not sure how long it will last. So far ZsaZsa has eaten at least 8 of these a day along with her favorite Puperoni. I have noticed that she is feeling like she is gaining weight. Perhaps we can keep her alive a while longer.

Two-Ingredient Dog Biscuits   (makes 48 small bone-shaped biscuits)
2 cups whole wheat flour
4 2.5-oz. jars pureed baby meat (I used chicken and gravy)

Preheat oven to 350º. In large bowl, mix ingredients together thoroughly. Roll out onto lightly greased cutting board into ½-inch thickness and cut into shapes.

Bake on lightly greased baking sheet for 20 minutes. Cool and store in paper bag. Storing in airtight container will make them soft but still edible.

She also likes these but not as much as the Two-Ingredient Dog Biscuits.

Vegan Dog Biscuits (makes 16 small + 15 medium sized bone shaped biscuits)

1 banana, mashed

½ cup peanut butter

1 cup quick oatmeal, finely crumbled with fingers

½ cup unsweetened applesauce

1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour

½ tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350º. In a large mixing bowl, mix ingredients together thoroughly. Roll out dough onto parchment paper and cut into desired shapes. Bake on lightly greased baking sheet for 20 minutes. Cool and refrigerate. These are even tasty for humans!

An Amazing Day!

Today, after 35 years of looking for Jesse Brown's wife, I found her. My mission is complete--almost.

Her name is Amanda Goodwin. I don't know much about her but that is the next adventure.

Happy Birthday!

Sasha is 12 years old today.

Dog Potty

After Zsa Zsa's episode with congestive heart failure last week, I decided it was time to make things easier for her when it comes to potty time. The cold weather here lately has really been affecting her arthritic legs and she often comes back in the house limping on one leg or the other. The diuretic she is taking makes her have to go to the bathroom more often, which is good for her, but bad for my aging knees, especially when she has to go out now about 7-8 times a day.

The solution was this dog potty that I finished putting together tonight that places her potty place on the same level as the main part of the house and out on the deck. Tomorrow will be the big day for her to try it out for the first time.

For any of you wanting to make one of these for any reason, the tutorial is available on the January 27th post on The George Girls blog.

13 Years Old

Today is Zsa Zsa's birthday. So far, she is in pretty good health. Her arthritis has flared up with this cold weather but she seems fine otherwise.

Festival of Trees

Every year I go to the Festival of Trees. This year, I went to the gift shop first. I was particularly interested to see if my Minky receiving blankets ever made it to the festival's gift shop. I was pleasantly surprised to find one left with a price tag of $35 (bottom row, third from left). I assume the others had already been sold.

This really made me happy that the hours spent piecing the 6x6-inch flannel squares was all worth it so that the Primary Children's Hospital could benefit more from the income than from just giving them flannel receiving blankets directly.

Then on to the gingerbread houses, my favorite part of the festival. First, the Once-Ler house.

 Then the Nutcracker Estate.

 Harry Potter and friends.

Sweet Tooth Fairy Bakery. Check the cake bites on the roof. Yum!

 Log house.

 Wow! Love the red roof.

 Thomas Kinkade's Lighthouse.

 Simple but cute.

Nabisco shredded wheat for the roof. Can't image what the stones are made of. Clever.

Provo Tabernacle, soon to be temple.

The picture says it all.

 Now onto the trees. First a pop can tree. Really?

So that's the problem!

 Oh, this is a dream.

 Ava, PJ and Annabel would love this one.

 More toys.

 Oh, this is so tacky.

Micky and Minnie tree.

Check out the stove burners, cupboard pulls, sink, faucet handles, tile, etc.

This was all included with the sale of the tree. Did you notice the legs on the chairs and table? Amazing.

This one was donated in memory of their beloved dog, Raleigh. How sweet.

 2-liter pop bottle tree.

 Chinese dragons.

That's it. Hope you enjoyed the tour. I didn't even take pictures of all the door wreaths, table centerpieces and quilts. There was so much stuff, all made with love for the Primary Children's Hospital.