Linen Crisp

I just heard that we might get snow tomorrow. The way the wind is blowing and the color of the sky, I won't be surprised if we do. In the meantime, I have pillowcases that are as crisp and pretty as fresh linen drying in the breeze.  

Jasminka, a fellow Haute Couture member made 10 beautiful cases which brings our total to 885 pillowcases for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital pillowcase drive.

I love the touches of black she used. It really sets off the yellow and white.

She also used a beautiful batik print and I love how she was able to use every last bit as you can see in the 3 cases below. .

 Thank you so much Jasminka for your contribution to the project.

So, you've seen my garden go from the birth of spring, through summer, fall and now winter is upon us. What a wonderful journey this has been.

Sunday Night Reflections

Sunday's Soup

Today's soup is no longer on the Panera Bread website. I'm really surprised because it's a good one. In fact, this is the second time I've made it. It's hearty and yet still light. Packed full of all the vitamins and nutrients that we especially need to stock up on this time of year, at least in the northern hemisphere :)  

 Tuscan Vegetable Soup

 The Ingredients;
3 tabelspoons of olive oil
1 1/2 cups of chopped red onion
1 cup of chopped celery
1 cup of chopped carrots (I sliced mine)
4 large cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
1 can (28 ounces) plum tomatoes in puree, chopped with juice
8 ounces of kale, stems removed, leaves chopped
8 ounces of green chard, stems removed, leaves chopped
2 cups canned cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
7 cups of vegetable or chicken broth
1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

Directions;
1. Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, and carrots. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped tomatoes (with juice), kale and chard. Cook until the kale is wilted, 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Puree 1 cup of the beans and 1 cup of the broth in a food processor until smooth. Add to the soup along with the remaining beans and 6 cups of broth. My soup was just a bit thicker than I liked, so I added a little more broth. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.

3. Stir in the basil and salt. Simmer about 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan.

*Tip  For extra flavor, saute 1/4 cup of chopped pancetta along with the vegetables. You can also add the rind from a wedge of Parmesan cheese to simmer in the soup. It add a super rich taste of Parmesan.
I had added a zucchini to my soup as well as some black pepper.
This is a great soup for freezing. It makes a rather large pot of soup, approximately 8 servings.
My house smells so good right now. I can't wait for supper!

Betty Gets Booped On A Horse!

Good Morning Everyone! It is a very bright and crisp fall morning  here in Chicago. As I walked the dogs, I just couldn't help but marvel at the spectacular display of colors.

Because the light is so lovely, and because I have quite a few pillowcases to share, I wanted to get this post out early this morning. Joy of http://joyful-expressions.blogspot.com/ sent in a second contribution to the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital pillowcase drive. Joy has had a lot on her plate lately, her mother-in-law died just about a week ago and she and her husband are dealing with some health issues that he is having. I think that making the cases gave Joy a wonderful escape and she said, "it is such a blessing to be able to do something for a child." She told me that she has quite a stash of fabrics and once they get past her husband's health issues, she plans to make quilts for her local hospital. Wonderful! So with Joy's  10, our numbers grow to 875!!!!!
I got the biggest kick out of the Betty Boop goes western pillowcases.

 And the other pillowcases are just as bright and cheerful as Joy's spirit.

 Thank you so much Joy for all you've done for the project.

As I said, the colors this morning were such a delight for the senses so I just had to share the trees that are in front of my house.Spectacular!

Wishing you all a day filled with things that delight your senses.
Rhonda

The Cat May Be In The Hat, But The Zebra's Wearing Purple

I had thought that we might hit 900 pillowcases today for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital pillowcase drive. We are just short, and I mean just a weeeee bit short. So...the 900th pillowcase will be announced next week. I cannot wait to see whose will be the 900th pillowcase. I have received quite a few emails so I know lots are coming in, it's just a matter of whose will arrive first. 

Today I would like to share the 12 that Alice sent in from sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. Her 12 brings us to a total of 865. As I said, we have more, but I feel that everyone who makes a contribution deserves their turn on the clothesline, so in the next few days you will see the numbers continue to grow. 

Alice's cases are so whimsical and fun.
The cat in the hat,

 frogs riding motorcycles,

a kitty meditating,

 purple zebras,

and psychedelic fish in a sea of splendor.

Thanks so much Alice for your contribution.
Today was our Haute Couture meeting and 3 of my fellow members had pillowcases for the project. I so enjoyed the looks on their faces as they handed me their contributions. How I wish I could have had the opportunity to meet each and everyone of you. Whether or not we know each others faces, we are connected in a very special way. We came together and we have made something so very special happen.
Thank you, thank you!
Rhonda

I Won And So Can You!

A little over a month ago, Gail of http://myfabrication.blogspot.com/ posted a pattern pyramid giveaway. It looked like fun, so I decided to jump on the band wagon. Well, surprise of surprises, I WON!!! So now it's my turn to pass the pyramid on to the next lucky person. You can read about the travels of the patterns on Gail's post here, http://myfabrication.blogspot.com/2013/09/valedictory-victory-and-something-for.html They have been on quite a journey.
Here are the patterns that I received.

Gail added the Tom and Linda Platt pattern and thought that I would like it. I really do, but I'm just not sure so I've decided to pass it along.

 Included in the package are these great patterns as well. I think I will keep one of these, but just one.

The pattern that I would really like to have is this simple coat because I of course need more coats!! You should see my husband eyes rolling ;) No, I really don't NEED another coat, but I really like this one so it has found a new home.

Here are the patterns that I have decided to throw onto the pyramid. The Vogue pattern is an Anne Klein that has never been used. I have used the Christine Jonson patterns, but all the pieces are there. 

If you would like to jump on the pyramid and win , just leave a message on this post by Wednesday November 6th. I will announce the lucky winner then. So good luck and may the power of the pyramid be with you!

Short On Fabric But Not Determination

The pillowcases continue to roll in. I've received three packages in the last few days. Sadly, I wasn't able to post pictures yesterday as it rained the entire day. Sadly, Halloween was shot for children in the Chicago area. As for how many pillowcases I actually have, I will keep you in suspense as I feel that everyone deserves their moment on the clothesline.

Today I am so please to share with you the cases that Cynthia of http://oneattatime.blogspot.com/ made for the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital pillowcase drive. Her twelve brings us to 853. Closer, closer, closer!!!

 Such a rainbow of colors.

In her letter, Cynthia said that she had ordered fabric from an Etsy site and when it arrived, it was not large enough to make a pillowcase. I have a feeling that the fabric was sold in half yard increments rather than an entire yard. I too have been burned by this before.  But Cynthia was determined to not be outdone by the short fabric, so she was off to her local fabric store where she bought perfectly matching coordinates.

I think that the cases are all the prettier with the solid colors on top. Way to go Cynthia!

 Included in her package was a little present for me. Such a beautiful piece.

It's a tape measure! I'm not sure if the flower in the center is supposed to be a daisy or edelweiss.

I've decided that it is edelweiss. The flower is grown in the mountain regions of Germany and Austria and represents purity, lasting love and rugged mountain splendor. Rather nice I think :)

Cynthia included this lovely letter and I would like to share it with you. Over the last few years, she has meant so much to me. It was because of an encouraging note that she sent me that I decided to enter the Passion For Fashion again contest two years ago. 

Thank you Cynthia for the pillowcases, the lovely gift that I will truly treasure and even more for giving me the shot of encouragement that I need from time to time!
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will have another pillowcase post for you tomorrow as we inch closer and closer to 900.
Have a wonderful day.
Rhonda