A re-do

 Recently I was going through some of my previous Christmas posts in an effort to refresh my memory over some of the things I've made and I came across this and thought it was worth sharing again....

Barely the day started and

it's already six in the evening.

Barely arrived on Monday

and it's already Friday.

.. and the month is already over.

.. and the year is almost over.

.. and already 40, 50 or 60 years

of our lives have passed..

.. and we realize that we lost

our parents, friends.

.. and we realize it's too late

to go back..

So..

Let's try, despite

everything, to enjoy

the remaining time..

Let's keep looking for

activities that we like..

Let's put some color in

our grey..

Let's smile at the little

things in life that put

balm in our hearts..

And despite everything,

we must continue to enjoy

with serenity this time we

have left..

Let's try to eliminate the

afters..

I'm doing it after..

I'll say after..

I'll think about it after..

We leave everything for

later like " after ′′ is ours.

Because what we don't

understand is that ~

Afterwards, the coffee

gets cold..

afterwards, priorities change..

Afterwards, the charm is

broken.

Afterwards, health passes..

Afterwards, the kids grow up.

Afterwards parents get old..

Afterwards, promises are

forgotten..

Afterwards, the day becomes

the night.

Afterwards, life ends.

And then it's often too late.

So..

Let's leave nothing for

later..

Because still waiting to see

later, we can lose the

best moments, the best

experiences, best friends,

the best family..

The day is today..

The

moment is now..

We are no longer at the

age where we can afford

to postpone what needs

to be done right away.

It Looks Like An Eternity,

But It's A Short Trip..

Enjoy Life And Always

Be Kind..

- Caitriona Loughrey

- Maybe you'd like to make THIS for your Christmas decor.

- THIS would make a really nice gift.

- Although we haven't tried THIS (yet!), wouldn't it be pretty for Christmas giving?

- THIS looks like a pretty easy thing to create.

- THIS would make a welcome gift for the youngsters or teens on your list.

- If you know someone who has issues with their neck and shoulders, I bet THIS would be a welcome gift. And HERE are the instructions to make a quilted hug (the link takes you to a PDF file). I think I will deep dive into my stash to see if I have the makin's to make one.

Today's quote..."Happiness comes a lot easier when you stop complaining about your problems and start being grateful for all the problems you don't have"

A little side trip

 One of my friends was given a kit to make this little fox and, because she doesn't crochet, she passed it on to me to create.  He (she?) was a little fiddly to make and I ended up playing a rousing game of yarn chicken with the orange yarn. I won, but barely.  Hopefully she's happy with him.  Personally I think he looks pretty bedraggled.  

And....the Resident Chef decided that we needed to have eggnog pie and this is the result...

If you want to make your own, he used THIS recipe.

- I know THIS is a pay-item, but it's absolutely awwww-worthy so I had to share!

- If you have an avid bird-watcher on your Christmas list, perhaps they would like THIS.

- Every year about this time I start to see the emergence of 'temperature' projects - either people posting about their finished projects or talking about starting one in the new year.  Every year I contemplate doing one but then never do.  Initially I thought that they were only done in knit or crochet  using yarn and just the thought of the cost of purchasing that many different colours put me off.  I have discovered that people are also doing them using cross stitch which is MUCH cheaper and would involve (mostly) less time each day.  One example I found was THIS one but there are lots more to choose from if you would like to do one.

Today's quote..."People were created to be loved.  Things were created to be used.  The reason why the world is in chaos is because things are being loved and people are being used"

Oooey gooey goodness

 What?  No recipe this time?? Well, I thought I'd give you a break and try to come up with something else that might be of interest.  Come to think of it, I guess this IS baking, but thought you might like to see the results of some of the butter tarts the Resident Chef made for inclusion in the Christmas boxes...

Heaven help the RC if there are no butter tarts!

- THIS is something that would be fun to create.

- And if there's a dog in your life, perhaps making one of THESE would be a perfect gift.

- There are lots of ideas HERE for gifts that would be welcome over the holidays.

- If someone you know has a fireplace, maybe THESE would be a really nice gift they would enjoy.

- Many of us have wooden spools in our stash and when I saw THIS I thought I'd share in case you want to use some of them to create some ornaments.

- HERE is another rabbit hole of ideas for things you can make for sewists.

Instead of a quote, I thought I'd share this....

I hope you will read Dave Ramsey’s comments about going cashless. It’s a two minute read and NO one has explained it better. Please take 2 minute's and read!

YOUNGER GENERATIONS TAKE NOTE!

Dave Ramsey repost:

HERE'S WHAT NO CASH ACTUALLY MEANS:

A cashless society means no cash. Zero. It doesn’t mean mostly cashless and you can still use a ‘wee bit of cash here & there’. Cashless means fully digital, fully traceable, fully controlled. I think those who support a cashless society aren’t fully aware of what they are asking for. A cashless society means:

* If you are struggling with your mortgage on a particular month, you can’t do an odd job to get you through.

* Your child can’t go & help the local farmer to earn a bit of summer cash.

* No more cash slipped into the hands of a child as a good luck charm or from their grandparent when going on holidays.

* No more money in birthday cards.

* No more piggy banks for your child to collect pocket money & to learn about the value of earning.

* No more cash for a rainy day fund or for that something special you have been putting $20 a week away for.

* No more little jobs on the side because your wages barely cover the bills or put food on the table.

* No more charity collections.

* No more selling bits & pieces from your home that you no longer want/need for a bit of cash in return.

* No more cash gifts from relatives or loved ones.

What a cashless society does guarantee:

* Banks have full control of every single penny you own.

* Every transaction you make is recorded.

* All your movements & actions are traceable.

* Access to your money can be blocked at the click of a button when/if banks need ‘clarification’ from you which will take about 3 weeks, a thousand questions answered & five thousand passwords.

* You will have no choice but to declare & be taxed on every dollar in your possession.

* The government WILL decide what you can & cannot purchase.

* If your transactions are deemed in any way questionable, by those who create the questions, your money will be frozen, ‘for your own good’.

Forget about cash being dirty. Stop being so easily led. Cash has been around for a very, very, very long time & it gives you control over how you trade with the world. It gives you independence. I heard a story where a man supposedly contracted Covid because of a $20 bill he had handled. There is the same chance of Covid being on a card as being on cash. If you cannot see how utterly ridiculous this assumption is then there is little hope.

If you are a customer, pay with cash. If you are a shop owner, remove those ridiculous signs that ask people to pay by card. Cash is a legal tender, it is our right to pay with cash. Banks are making it increasingly difficult to lodge cash & that has nothing to do with a virus, nor has this ‘dirty money’ trend.

Pay with cash & please say no to a cashless society while you still have the choice.

check, check AND check

 ✔ - Christmas wrapping is done

✔ - Christmas cards are done

✔ - Christmas letters are done

✔ - Online greetings are done

✔ - Baking is done (except for some butter tarts happening on Friday)

✔ - Preserves are done

✔ - Parcels on track for mailing on Monday

And, here's your final recipe we did...

CHOCOLATE SWIRLED PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

Peanut butter dough:
3/4 c. creamy peanut butter
1/2 c. EACH softened butter, white sugar & brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. EACH baking powder & baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Chocolate dough:
1/2 c. EACH softened butter; white sugar & brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp EACH baking powder & baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Cream peanut butter, butter & sugars until light & fluffy.  Beat in egg.  Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture.

For chocolate dough:  cream butter & sugars til light & fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture.

Divide each portion in half.  Knead 1 peanut butter and 1 chocolate portion together 5-10 times or til it begins to swirl.  Shape into 10" log.  Wrap in waxed paper.  Repeat with remaining dough.  Refrigerate 3-4 hours or until firm.  

Cut dough into 1/4" slices.  Place 2" apart on lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 6-8 mins or until bottoms are lightly browned.  Cool 2 mins before removing from pans to wire racks.

(original recipe found HERE)

And, before I go any further, I hope all my American friends had a happy Thanksgiving yesterday.  

- THESE are really pretty!

- If you have a dog in your life, perhaps they would like some of THESE for Christmas.

- THESE would have lots of uses this time of year.

- THIS would make a cute little gift, particularly if it were accompanied with a little cash.

- Sometimes it's the simplest things that are the most fun to create as THIS will attest.

Today's quote is from Bob Marley...."You will never find justice in a world where criminals make the rules"

And here's another recipe

We have been slaving away in the kitchen and made these for Christmas giving (and a few taste-tests for quality control too)...

CLASSIC ENGLISH TOFFEE

1 c. pecan pieces
1 1/2 c. unsalted butter
2 c. sugar
2 T. corn syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

Dry roast the pecans in a medium skillet over medium high heat until they start to brown and smell nutty.  Let cool.
Line a 9x13" pan with foil.  Sprinkle with half the pecans.  
Combine butter, sugar, corn syrup and salt and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture has turned golden and reaches 295 to 305 degrees (hard crack stage) on the candy thermometer.  Pour over pecans in pan and spread evenly.  Let cool for a few minutes, then top with chocolate.  Once softened, spread with spatula and sprinkle with remaining pecan pieces.  Cool to room temperature and then refrigerate overnight.  Remove foil and break into chunks.  

Original recipe came from HERE.  Modifications by us.

- HERE is something that would be a welcome gift, particularly for those who are in nursing homes.

- If you need to create table favours over the holidays (or for any occasion) perhaps THESE would be perfect.

- Sometimes making something relatively simple like THIS would be the perfect gift (I suspect men would love it).

- THESE would make a lovely gift too.

Today's quote is from Albert Einstein..."The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything"

From the kitchen at Chez Magpie...

 Over the weekend the kitchen here at Chez Magpie was a hive of industry and resulted in the creation of Christmas Jam, Cranberry and Apple Mustard, Rhubarb Jelly and even a batch of shaving cream.  There may, or may not, have been a batch or two of toffee too.

In case you want to make your own, here's three of the recipes we used...

RHUBARB JELLY

2 lbs. rhubarb, chopped into 1" pieces
4 1/4 c. water
To make the jelly:
4 c. rhubarb juice
6 c. sugar
6 T. powdered pectin

Bring the rhubarb and water to a hard boil and then simmer for about 20 mins. or until the rhubarb has fallen apart.  Pour mixture into a cheesecloth lined strainer and allow the juice to drain for about 2 hours or until you've collected 4 c. of juice.
Bring juice to a boil, add the pectin and bring to a boil for one minute.  Add the sugar and return to a boil for 1 minute.  Pour into hot jars and process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes. Makes approx. 7  half-pint jars.
           Original recipe was found HERE.  Some changes by us.

CHRISTMAS JAM

4 c. fresh or frozen cranberries
4 c. chopped strawberries
4 c. sugar
1/4 c. lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves (we didn't use)
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg (we increased to 1/2 tsp)
1/4 c. water

Combine in a large pot and bring to a boil over med-high heat, stirring constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 mins or until jam has thickened.  Ladle into hot sterilized jars, seal and process in a boiling water bath for 10 mins.

Original recipe was found HERE.  

CRANBERRY AND APPLE MUSTARD

3 c. cranberries
2/3 c. cider vinegar
2 cooking apples, fine chopped
1/2 c. white sugar
1/3 c. honey
6 T. mustard powder
2 T. minced garlic
2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. turmeric

Combine cranberries and vinegar, cover the pot,  and bring to a boil and boil gently 5 minutes (you will need to keep stirring).  Add remaining ingredients and bring back to a boil, then lower to a good simmer for 5 more minutes.  Ladle into hot sterilized 4 oz.  jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Original recipe was found HERE.

- THIS is an intriguing idea.

- THIS would be a nice gift for someone.

- I'd like to give THIS a try.

- I thought THIS was intriguing too.

I really don't suppose....

 Another couple of 'social' days so nothing much got accomplished in my sewing room, other than addressing the Christmas cards - and I'm sure you are ever so anxious to see a picture of those?  I thought not.  So you know what I'm going to do, don't you....

- You simply have to go and see THIS stunning quilt!!!  

- We haven't tried THIS (yet) but wouldn't they be pretty on a cookie tray?

- THESE are really cute!  And so is THIS.

- Sometimes the simplest things are the best, as THIS will attest.

- THESE are awwwww-worthy.

- THIS might be fun to make - and would make a great gift too!

Today's quote is from George Bernard Shaw..."Now that we have learned to fly in the air like birds and dive in the sea like fish, only one thing remains...to learn to live on earth like humans"

Knitting too

 Earlier I made several of these hats and, upon perusing the Christmas box, I decided I needed to knit one more...

The original pattern is THIS one which I changed by using the ribbed pattern for a brim from THIS hat that I know our family likes.

- I think THIS is a wonderful idea to create in memory of someone special.

- If you crochet, be prepared to fall down a rabbit hole found HERE.

- I think THESE would be a welcome gift and would be fairly simple to make several at once.

-  THIS is so pretty and would make a lovely gift for someone on your list.

Today's quote...

One down....

 ....three more to go!

Pattern is Simplicity 1043

- THIS is a really pretty design that would make great gifts or nice on your own table.

- Making some of THESE would be fun and there's a multitude of uses as well.

- Sometimes the simplest things are the best as THIS will attest.  Now I wish I'd kept all the plaid 'bits' I got rid of!!

- If you're looking to expand your crocheting skills, perhaps you might like to look through all the possibilities HERE.

- There are several really cute little cross stitched designs HERE (thanks to Canadian Needle Nana for the head's up on this one).

Today's quote....

Squirrel!!!!

 

Yes, a squirrel scampered through my sewing room and for some reason this happened...

This, being a little quilt for a doll bed.  Our little granddaughter will be getting a doll bed for her birthday in January (along with the rag doll I made her several months ago) and what self-respecting grandma could have a 'nekkid' bed with no bedding?  I *should* have been working on PJ's but that pesky squirrel had other plans.  

- THESE are awwww-worthy ( I know they're earmarked for Easter, but I don't see why they wouldn't be fun in the winter)

- Perhaps you might have a use for THESE in your Christmas crafting.

- HERE is another great little gift.

- I've seen a lot of THESE around the internet but thought it would be fun to share an article about them in case you're interested in doing one in 2026.  I think it would be an amazing gift for a newborn or commemorating the first year of a marriage.

Today's quote...

Nada

 Nothing much is happening in the studio here at Chez Magpie this week, at least not so far.  It's a busy week socially so the sewing machine is feeling rather left out.  Today I'm teaching a crazy quilting workshop so I'll be gone all day and tomorrow is a family lunch 'date'.  Hopefully I'll be able to get back to making things on Friday if all goes well. 

So...in the meantime.....you know what that means, don't you...

- Perhaps THESE would make a good gift for someone?

- Anyone with a sweet tooth would appreciate one of THESE.

- THESE would make a nice gift too.

- HERE is something that would be a welcome gift.

- THESE would be fun to give too, particularly if you accompanied the gift with something else that is kitchen-y.

- Several years ago I made a number of THESE and they were well-received.

Today's quote..."We don't always have to agree with each other, but it's important that we learn to respect each other.  Disagreement is natural, disrespect is a choice.  Respect costs nothing but it builds everything"

 

Still chipping away

 Four pairs of adult-sized lounge pants - ✔  (well, all but the drawstrings that are on the way).  I used McCall's # 4244 for three of them and McCall's 4979 for the green pair.  

Four pillowcases for the grandies - ✔  I use the burrito-method and the tutorial can be found HERE

Our local food bank's November food drive is rather a fun one so I thought I'd post it here in case you'd like to go shopping for YOUR local area.  We don't (obviously) buy and deliver one thing each day but we put it all together into one larger donation.  We also buy multiples of many of the items.  When we drop it all off we give them our grocery receipt and they send us a tax deduction.  Win/win!

- THIS, along with a bottle of nice apple juice, would be a nice little gift at Christmas.

- THESE are really cute and would make a wonderful gift for a little someone in your life.

- THIS might be a nice gift for a family.

- Some of you might be interested in THIS sew-along.  

Today's quote is from Dr. Jane Goodall..."Let us move forward with faith in ourselves, in our intelligence, in our indomitable spirit.  Let us develop respect for all living things.  Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion and love"

Whittling

 I'm whittling down the pile of fabrics and have three adult-sized pairs of lounge pants sewn up.  My stash dive let me down and now I'm awaiting delivery of some drawstring cording before I can truly finish them.

- HERE is a cute idea you might like to use for Christmas giving.

- And THIS is another one.

- THIS is a technique you might like to try.

- If you are a crocheter and need a gift, perhaps THIS might be a good one.

Today's quote is from George Orwell..."The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it"

Nothing but piles

 Yes, I have nothing done at the moment but am gearing up to deal with these piles of fabrics.  Somewhere in there are four pairs of pj's for the grandies and four pillowcases and four pairs of adult lounge pants, all destined for the Christmas box.  Should keep my sewing machine humming for a few days!

Sorry about the poor picture quality - it's yet another dull day here and I didn't take into account the 'busy' quilt that's in the background.  You can get the general idea anyway I think!

- THIS leads to all sorts of free crochet patterns, some of which are very cute.

- I'm going to have to remember THIS!

- Making THIS (or more than one!) would be fun for Christmas.

- If you have scraps of plaid fabric perhaps you'd like to try making some of THESE.  

Today's quote..."Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you're living"