Apologies, Brownies, and Catching Up...

First of all I owe someone an apology. Over 2 weeks ago while I was traipsing around the Maritimes I received an award from a friend and fellow blogger. It is the Liebster Award.

I received this award from Linda at Stitch Lines

Sorry Linda that I neglected to thank you or even acknowledge this honour.

When I received this from Linda my first thought was, "Oh no, what do I have to do with this?" After a bit I started wondering just what was a Liebster award and who is Liebster anyway? So I searched a bit... and no one seems to know the origin of this blog award but it is meant to recognize and honour blogs with 200 followers or less. The word Liebster is of German origin and means "favourite, beloved, dearest". It is an award you receive, but also one you pass on...pay it forward so to speak. If you receive a Liebster Blog Award you are asked to choose 3-5 bloggers and send them one as well. It is meant to highlight small blogs, so the blogger receiving the award links back to the giver and tags 3-5 people. 

Thank you Linda  

There is no obligation to continue this award. If it is not your cup of tea, that's ok, but I am going to recognize a couple of blogs that I enjoy. 

Holly is a wonderful artist and quilter. She is always trying something new and scatters her post with lots of nature pictures and recipes.

Charlotte  is a fairly new blogger but has some wonderful purses and bowls she has been so enthusiastic over lately and I love how she puts colour together.

Sheila  has a lovely upbeat blog. She always has lots of pictures, and interest much the same as mine. We have ever met, but I am sure we would be kindred spirits.

Check them out, and be sure to say Hi.

Last night was our monthly guild meeting and it was my turn to help provide goodies for coffee break. I brought brownies and a few people expressed interest in them so I thought I would give you the recipe. 

Hershey's 5 Minute Brownies

3/4 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp baking soda

* 2/3 cup of veg. oil divided

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 tsp salt

2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 1/3 cup flour

1 tsp vanilla

chopped walnuts or pecans

Stir cocoa and soda and *half of the oil in large bowl. Add boiling water. Stir till thckened. Stir in sugar, eggs and *remaining oil. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spread in a greased 13 x 9 pan and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. **Frost and garnish with a half pecan.(optional)

**Usually I keep a can of Betty Crocker choc. icing on hand for days when I am in a hurry, but when I make my own I use this recipe.

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup cocoa

3 cups icing sugar

1/3 cup milk

1tsp vanilla

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. add icing sugar alternately with milk. Beat to spreading consistancy. Stir in vanilla.

Stir in a SMALL amount of additional milk if needed.

These brownies are my "go to" recipe when I need something in a hurry that is sure to please almost everyone. Can't go too far wrong with chocolate...

Last week I had a friend"sleep-over" while Mr. O was away on business. She wanted some help with a project she had put  "on hold" awhile back. I cleared my design wall and "we" spent the better part of 2 days working away at it. I use the word "we" laughingly, because "Me" came up with ideas and "She" executed them.Coming up with ideas is easy...making it happen is another thing altogether but Glenda is a master quilter and she made it look easy.

This was a tin can challenge we started a few years back. You pick a theme, make a block, and add it along with a few fabrics to a tin can and then pass your can along to your friends. The cans rotate and as you receive each can you make a block according to the owners wishes. 

We had a get together and got to open our cans a year after originally passing them off to our friends.

Glenda had requested small blocks with a cottage/cabin/woodsy theme. After she received her blocks she was so pleased with them she decided to incorporate them into a larger project. 

The canoe and one of the bears was the inspiration for this section.

One small deer, a few trees, and couple stars inspired this section.

A paper pieced pine, 3 birdhouses and 3 little birds was the kick off for this.

Angels, acorns, log cabin blocks, stars, a squirrel and a cottage came together like this...and on and on it goes until this is what is on the wall...

Coming up with ideas is easy...making it happen is another thing altogether but Glenda is a master quilter and she made it look easy. 

She left it on my wall and will be back next week to try to finish most of it.  Don't you love how it is looking? 

Well done Glenda!