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Welcome to American Homestead. I'm happy you have found my blog. Make yourself comfy and see what's been happening around here. I write about the things that interest me ~ creativity, travel, food, nature and a happy life. I'd love to read your comments.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

Paducah ~ Day 2

Art & History


I started out my day
by having breakfast with
a local painter who filled
me in on the local art scene
in this beautiful little town.


And this is his beautiful
dog with the kind eyes.


I shopped for some fabric.


I looked at some quilts.




But my favorite part of
the day was


wandering through the
Lower Town Arts District,


looking at all the
fabulous old homes.


I almost moved to
Paducah 20 years ago.


I wanted to buy a
sweet little Victorian
in Lower Town.


The artist I had breakfast with
told me that would have been
a wise move financially.
Who knows?  Maybe in the future...






Friday, April 29, 2011

Paducah, Kentucky

On the Road Again...


I'm in Paducah Kentucky for
the American Quilter's Society
Extravaganza.


I'm thrilled to say my
quilts are safe and were not
destroyed by flood waters.
(It was a real concern
earlier in the week.)


The flood gates are up, the
Ohio River is high,
but so far so good.


A little, er... well, a lot
of water will not stop
quilters from gathering.


It is a beautiful day here
in Paducah and everyone
is out on the main drag
enjoying the sun and
some music.


The cafes are filling up.
I'll be in one later this evening.


I took advantage of this lovely
weather and strolled around
town to take some photos.



I love old towns, they
have so much character.


And history of the
 lives lived here.


If anyone is going to be
in Paducah this weekend
stop by Dawn's booth at
104 Broadway and say hi.
My quilts and new pattern
line are there.




Thursday, April 28, 2011

Sapphire & Diamonds

Knowing What You Want


Ever since I was a little girl,
I have loved color.  Somewhere
in my teen years I decided if I
were to ever get engaged, I wanted
a ring that was going to be about me.
It would be a sapphire surrounded
by diamonds.  The typical diamond
engagement ring was not for me.


Then somewhere at the end of my teen
years Charles & Diana got engaged.
Hey, that's my ring!
Diana and I were born within the same
year and I remember thinking at the time
that I would never be prepared to get
married yet.  I didn't know what I
wanted or even who I was yet.
Sadly, we know what happened to that
marriage...


And now that ring is on another
girl's finger.  I look at this couple
and I see happiness.  And I see
similarities to my life.  They met at
college, had a life together through
their 20's and now in their later 20's
are getting married.


I did get the ring I wanted.  Perhaps
not as large as Diana and Kate's, but
it is me.
Rob and I were together for 8 years
before we got married.  People would
ask us, "when, when, when?"  Honestly,
I had a list, THE LIST, of things I wanted
to do and be before I got married.  I was lucky
enough to have lived a rather grand New York
life and it was wonderful but I didn't want
that for the rest of my life.  I also didn't want to
go into my quieter life with any regret.  So , I
lived and did the things I wanted.

I won't be able to see the Royal Wedding
tomorrow.  I have to drive 6 hours all by
myself to be in Paducah, Kentucky for
the weekend.  But I will be thinking
about them, I have high hopes for them
because I think they may also know
what they want.



Wednesday, April 27, 2011

My Dream Garden

One Can Dream...


From my studio, I have
great views of our back gardens,
 this is a little pond garden.


The pond & perennial borders.


The gazebo & evergreen borders.


The butterfly garden looking
towards My Farm.  My Farm is
just a little grouping of raising beds
where I grow my veggies.  It serves
its purpose, it's nice, but it is not
my dream...


This is.
It is the Kitchen Garden of
the Governor's Palace in
Williamsburg, Virginia.
And it want it to be mine...


I want to walk through
a gate like this and
collect my veggies for dinner.


It is quite a steep hill that
is terraced for the planting areas.


I would like to walk
out of my kitchen to
a brick paved terrace
covered by a pergola
planted with a flowering
vine that would attract
hummingbirds.  I'd sit
out there and look at what
was at the peak of perfection
and plan my menus.


And I wouldn't mind


having this pantry either.




Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Elle's Kitchen: Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

I Dream About These Potatoes!


Ingredients:
1 tabl. unsalted butter
1 pound new potatoes, quartered
2 tabl. water
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teas. fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. black pepper


Melt butter in a heavy skillet
(I used cast iron) over medium
heat.  Add potatoes and 1 tabl.
of the water and stir to coat. 
Reduce heat to low and cook,
covered for 15 minutes, stirring
occasionally. 


 Add remaining
1 tabl. of water and cook, until
potatoes are tender and well
browned, about 15 minutes longer.


Sprinkle potatoes with garlic,
rosemary, salt & pepper.  Cook,
stirring, 2 minutes longer.


It is the perfect time of year
to buy a rosemary plant. 
The flavor from the fresh
plant is vibrant & delicious.




Monday, April 25, 2011

When They're 64?

How Long?


Even though my kids are
17 & 18, they still insist on
the holiday traditions.

They decorated eggs...


had Easter baskets
& an egg hunt, (money
was involved in that).


And at Sunday dinner
at Grammie's we had
toasts and laughter
&
Bunny Cake.
But this year the kids
decorated it, that can
be a new tradition!

I hope everyone had
a lovely holiday weekend.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Civil War Remembered ~ Block 17

Comfort Quilt


We are quilting along
with the Barbara Brackman
Civil War Quilt for 2011.


Cutting Requirements:

Fabric A: Dark
8 - 2 1/4" squares
I made mine 4 - red, 4 - blue

Fabric B:  Light
4 - 2 1/4" x 5" rectangles

Fabric C:  Light
4 - 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" rectangles

Fabric D:  Dark
1 - 1 1/2" square


Make center 9 patch first.
Layout Fabrics A,C, & D
as shown and sew together
in 3 rows.  Press rows 1 & 3
to the inside and row 2 to the outside.


Sew rows together.


Square to 5".


Sew Fabric A squares to
the ends of 2 Fabric B
rectangles. 


Sew Fabric B rectangles
to each side of center
9 patch as shown.


Layout as shown.


Sew rows together and
square to 8 1/2".


Here is another one I did.



And another.


And another.


I liked Ann's idea of
swapping placement so
I made this piece this morning.
I like it.  I think it would be
better as a large quilt, something
to think of in the future.


I'm including some photos
of coverlets that Barbara
talked about on her blog.


I toured the home of
a Civil War General in
New Castle, Indiana
this week.


While I was there a person
was cataloguing the coverlet
collection and she opened
up a few and let me
photograph them.


I love this one!


This house is now the Henry
County Historical Society Museum.


If you are ever in the area
stop by and see this beautiful
museum.  If you would like
to see more of the museum
checkout my blog post
from April 23rd.

Checkout everyone's block
on Dustin's Flickr site: