Fabric Fabric Fabric

I wanted to share a couple of online fabric sites that I love to shop. I don't always have the ability to shop online if I need fabric in a hurry, but I do love the fact that I can take my time in the comfort of my home and browse to my hearts content (well I wish I had all the time in the world anyway). Here are two of my favorites and I hope all my followers will start a discussion and share your favorites.  http://www.hawthornethreads.com/home  www.fatquartershop.com   It is so easy to shop these two particular shops when you can see on the page how well you fabrics coordinate.

Whale of a Story.....

I want to share this story with all my blog readers. It was sent to me by my sister, Debra who lives in California. I hope that everyone who reads this will some day experience something as uplifting as this story by being able to help someone in need.

This is a story for our times, bringing together how we can "right" our relationship with all life and receive one of the greatest gifts in return - gratitude. 

       YOU... and a WHALE

...The Whale... If you read a recent front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to
struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth.

A fisherman spotted her just east of the  Farallon Islands  (outside the Golden Gate ) and radioed an environmental group for help. Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her.

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each and every diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around as she was thanking them.

Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.

May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who
will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And, may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude.

I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.

It's a good life,

Another Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe

If you have recipes you love and would like to share, we would love to have you post them.

Raspberry Meringue Bars

 
1/2 pound (2sticks) butter or margarine, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 egg yolks
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 jar (10 ounces) seedless rasberry jam
4 egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups finely chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 in. jelly roll pan. Cream the butter, 1/2 the sugar, and the egg yolks in a food processor fitted with the metal blade or in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until well blended. Add the flower and mix until incorporated. Pat the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, but leave the oven at 350 degrees. Cool the pastry for 5 minutes an spread it with jam. Beat the egg whites and salt in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until stiff. but not dry, peaks form. Fold in the remaining cup of sugar and the nuts. Gently spread on top of the jam, making sure to seal the edges and corners. Return to the oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown. While still warm, cut into 3 x 1 inch bars.

* The cookies may be stored in air tight containers at room temperature up to 1 week, or they may be frozen. Defrost, covered, at room temperature.

Makes 50 bars.

One Favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe

Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Squares

I love hazelnuts, but these cookies will be just as fantastic with pecans, walnuts or almonds. These are simple to prepare and truly special. The great thing about these cookies....although I usually make them for Christmas they are great anytime!
21 Oreo sandwich cookies
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
1 1/4 cups sweetened condensed milk (from a 14 oz. can, you will use 1/4 cup for the top)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips
1 1/3  cups flaked coconut
1 cup (about 4 oz.) hazelnuts, coarsely chopped and toasted at 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 10 min.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the Oreos in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and process until ground into crumbs. (no food processor-place in large ziplock bag, seal and crush with rolling pin). You should have 2 cups crumbs. Place the butter in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and melt in the oven (do not burn). Sprinkle the crumbs over the butter, stir together with a spoon and press into the bottom of the pan. Drizzle 1 cup sweetened condensed milk evenly over the crust. Layer chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, coconut, and nuts; press down firmly. Drizzle with the remaining 1/4 sweetened condensed milk. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool to room temperature. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares.

* The squares may be stored, tightly covered, at room temperature for several days, or they may be frozen. Defrost, covered at room temperature.

Retro Headband

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63536034/retro-headband

Beautiful multi-colored headband will look great with a number of outfits, dress or casual.

Professionally handcrafted.

Colors include: purple, yellow, green, gray & wine. Center of flower has coordinating buttons.

Headband fits:
Pre-teen to Adult
19" to 22"

This headband can be made to order in the following sizes:

6-12 mo.
1-3 yr.
4-7 yr.
8 yr.-adult

Headband should be spot cleaned or hand washed and lay flat to dry only.