A Rising Explosion

When I opened the refrigerator this morning I heard a loud hissing sound. My first reaction was the freon was leaking out....no way, this is a new refrigerator. Then I thought it sounded like a soda pop spewing out, but there was not a single soda pop in the refrigerator. Now what?
Then I spotted the plastic container of bread dough on the top shelf. The lid was humped-up on top. I'd read that yeast could explode and tops should be loosely fitted....but I never follow directions. Smarty me thought..that won't happen!

I carefully removed the container from the refrigerator.....and gawked with amazement. Now what? The container was hissing at me, it sounded like my pressure cooker. I knew the thing was going to blow at any minute and a big doughy mess was inevitable, if not damage to my kitchen. I could take the container outside, but I needed to get ready for work and I did not want my dough to get hot. I tried to open the container with long handle tongs, I did not want to get too close, that did not work....I tried to punch a hole in the lid with a long handle knife but the plastic was too heavy. Finally I decided to bite the bullet, press my luck, and just use my hands and open the container. BOOM.....POP.....KABANG. I jumped three feet! then loosely put the lid back on the container, put the container back in the refrigerator and got ready for work.

If that thing blew, can you imagine what a mess I'd have in my refrigerator? Moral to the story....follow directions...and if there's a slight chance that something might go wrong and the directions tell you so....it just might.....
I'm so glad it's Friday...I'll laugh about my rising explosion all day.

Vanilla Infusion Kit & Other Sunday Night Ramblings

I've been making my own vanilla with this infusion kit. The bottle comes with the vanilla bean. You add premium vodka and keep it in a dark, dry, cool, environment for three months. After that you can use the vanilla and replenish it with more vodka for up to 7 years. I started the one on the right back in March 08. I started the second one about two weeks ago. It has not matured yet. This is very good vanilla but not quite as good as the Rose and Ivy Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. I think I will add Bourbon to the Infusion Kit for the next batch.
I spent most of the weekend stitching out embroidery designs that I am planning on framing. I finished four of the five. I added borders to three. I still have one more stitch out and borders to add to two more. I want to take them to Hobby Lobby and have them framed for my sewing room. I'm in the process of reorganizing, rearranging, and redecorating my space. I'm going to wait until I have the embroidery designs framed before I post pictures. But I can tell you I spent about 15 hours working on these little pictures. One of the designs was 92 minutes of stitching time and 31 thread changes. All are vintage sewing machines, spinning wheels, and sewing designs, with a Victorian era flare.

I made one BIG mistake...I forgot to steam shrink my cut away stabilizer, after I added the border pressed the miter corners, what a wrinkled mess I had. I tried cutting the stabilizer in every little corner and curve, but it still is not flat. I may have to do this one over.....it's the 92 minute/31 thread change design. I normally use tear away but since these were pictures I wanted permanent stabilizer, but not a wrinkled mess. After that mess, I threw the entire 3 yards of cut away into the washing machine and washed it on gentle with hot water, threw it in the dryer and pressed it. I won't make the same mistake twice.

I'm gradually getting through my list of projects. I'm skipping around and not going in my planned order but it's getting done. I want to work on my market basket but I do not need it until March when we start camping. My grandson is coming in the first weekend in February so I'll start working on the little outfits I have to embellish with embroidery after I cover the new stools we bought for the kitchen.

I know you're saying "enough ramblings"....okay I concede, "Hope everyone has a good Monday." I dread it, wish I could stay home and finish my pictures. I'll work on them tomorrow night after work and dream about them all day.

I found these cute little reproduction 1930's tin boxes at Joann's Fabric today when I stopped in to pick up the Pellon Fusible Fleece. They came with 4 spool of Gutermann's Thread. I put my red straight pins in one. The antiquity of the tins goes with the machine.
I did not get my tote bag finished tonight, although I junked up my sewing room working on it. I used the Bernina 200/730 with the BSR for quilting the lining, the walking foot for quilting the front of the tote, the Singer for piecing the inside pockets and outside envelope pocket. I'm pleased with the results so far, but not pleased with the amount of time it's taking me to finish. I seriously doubt if I finish it tomorrow night. I'll be working late and by the time I cook dinner and wash clothes, my stitching time is limited. The pocket is only pinned to the front section of the tote but all the quilting is finished except for the handles that are not even cut out.

I have the fabric out and ready to make my dog's scarves, as soon as the tote is finished. They're tired of being naked. The neighbors are asking about their scarves, they usually have a different scarf every month.

I have Baby Lima beans soaking tonight. We'll have beans cooked in the pressure cooker tomorrow evening. I have beef brisket to cook one night this week but I marinate it over night first, so it will have to wait until the Thursday. I'm tore between smoking it or slow baking in the oven. I want to make the Pioneer Woman's Brisket Recipe so I'll probably opt for the oven. If you don't like Beef Brisket ( I don't) you'll love it prepared the Pioneer way.

I just looked at the clock and it's Wednesday already, so HAPPY HUMP DAY, especially to all those who work a 40 hour week outside their homes. We're half way up the hump and ready to come down the back side so we can play on the weekend. Enjoy your Wednesday.

Don't Bug Me...

All good made plans change, at least at our house, but sometimes for the better. I decided after I got home from work that the Mexican Meat was too much work. I wanted to use my pressure cooker......I cooked a frozen beef tenderloin with Lipton Onion soup, 1 cup of water, and a slice red onion, for 40 minutes, cooled the cooker normally, removed the lid, added two cans of cream of mushroom soup and a little sour cream. Set the cooker on keep warm until Don got home from work...about 2 hours later. The roast was delicious. And we have leftovers for tomorrow night.

The meal went so quickly I had time to wash three loads of clothes and finish my "don't bug me" pajamas that I've be blogging about for a month.

Tomorrow evening after work I'm going to try and find time to make a few more can koozies. If I'm not in the koozie making mood then I'll start on my other pajama bottoms. I have this coffee cup flannel and black bear flannel for pajama bottoms. I have several coffee embroidery designs from Embroidery Library that will go with the coffee flannel. I'll embroidery them on a t-shirt, probably hot pink to match the coffee cups. I'll embroider a saying "don't mess with me until I'm on my second cup." I'll embroider a black bear on a tan t-shirt to go with the red flannel and embroider "Be nice, I growl after a long winter nap". Do you get the idea....I'm not much of a morning person but I'll pick you up in the evening and late at night.

I have these two pieces for flannel pajamas bottoms for Don. I'll get around to making these before we start camping in March. He needs new flannel for the camper and the cool nights.

We're going to SC to visit Don's brother this weekend. We are never home on weekends unless we have guest visiting. All this running around is cutting into my creative sewing time and the stash keeps growing. I'm going to have to buy a storage building or add a room onto my house just to store my fabric. But I'm not complaining too loud, I've been wanting to go to SC for quite some time now. We pass through Gastonia and I love to stop (and shop of course) at Mary Jo's Fabric Shop.