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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.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Honoring Women's Rights ~ Week 5

New Jersey
 

We are quilting along with Barbara
Brackman's Block of the Week,
Grandmother's Choice.
 
What a coincidence!  I am a Jersey Girl
AND I happen to be visiting my hometown
in NJ for a few weeks.
 
 
Fabric A: Dark Blue
2 - 4" squares, cut on the diagonal
 
Fabric B: Red Print
4 - 2 1/4" x 3 1/8" rectangle
 
Fabric C: Red
2 - 1 1/8" x 3 5/8" strips
 
Fabric D:  Light Blue
3 - 3 7/8" squares, cut twice on the diagonal
 
Fabric E:  Medium Blue
1 - 3" square, cut twice on the diagonal
 
Fabric F:  Red
1 - 1 1/8" x 7 3/8"
 
 
Layout as shown and sew a Fabric D
triangle to each side of Fabric B rectangle.
Press seams to the inside.
 
 
Sew a Fabric E triangle to the bottom
of above unit.  Press seam to the top.
Make 4.
 
 
Sew 2 of the above units to each side
of a Fabric C strip.  Press seams to the
inside.  Make 2.
 
 
Sew the above 2 units to each side of
a Fabric F strip.  Press seams to the inside.
 
 
Sew a Fabric A triangle as shown to
each corner.  Press seams to the outside.
Square to 8 1/2".
 
Check out everyones work on the Flickr site:


See you next Sunday!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Thursday, September 27, 2012

Scouting for Beauties

 
When I travel I love to photograph
beautiful houses of the area I am visiting.
Here is a group from New Jersey.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Bon Appetit!


 
On a beautiful early Fall day we were in
Long Branch, NJ and hungry.
We had lunch at a small local place on
 Brighton Avenue, just down the street
from the beach.  I love finding these
pleasant little gems with friendly people
and good simple food.  We decided to sit
outside on the sidewalk since we could
already feel the chill in the air and wanted
to enjoy the beautiful weather while we
still can.
 
 
Before ordering these little delights
were presented as an "amuse bouche",
they were delicious ~ a combination of
flan and a zeppole.
 
 
For our lunch we both had a chicken
panini with pesto mayo, they were very
tasty.  The menu has breakfast items,
sandwiches and salads.  The staff is very
friendly and helpful.  We loved having a
great conversation with our server about
traveling the world and cameras.
 
If you should ever happen to be in this
part of the world, check it out:
 
Bon Appetit
79 Brighton Avenue
Long Branch, NJ
732-229-1907
 
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Twin Lights Lighthouse


The other day I visited the Twin Lights
Lighthouse in Navesink Highlands, NJ.
The lighthouse is celebrating its 150th
anniversary this year.
 
 
The lighthouse is a beautiful structure.
 
 
The grounds are peaceful with a lovely breeze
even on warm days.
 
 
But you must make the climb to the top.
 
 
As you climb you can peek out the windows.
 
 
There are fabulous views of the ocean, you can see
all of Sandy Hook and in the distance is the New
York City Skyline.  Since it was such a lovely and
clear day we could see all the way out to the control
tower at JFK airport.
 
 
The views brought back memories of the
seafaring days of my youth when I probably
spent more time on the water than on land.
We would drop anchor off the Hook and have
swim parties, and New York Harbor was
our playgound.  Good memories...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Monday, September 24, 2012

Hamilton Street History

 
In my hometown in New Jersey, Hamilton
Street has a lot of history in my life.  My family
has been living on Hamilton Street for at least
90 years.  My Mum was born in a house on
Hamilton Street.  My Mum and Dad lived across
the street from each other and ended up getting
married after WWII.  I still have family living on
the street.
 
I went to school for 8 years just around the corner
from Hamilton Street and many days after school
I would walk around the corner with my girlfriends
after school to visit the Telephone company.  We
would ask the telephone repairmen for telephone
wire which was a wire covered in a plastic coating
in a variety of colors.  We would twist them and curl
them and create rings with the wires and then
exchange them with each other.  Yes, the crafty
thing has been part of my life forever...
 
I am visiting my hometown and last Saturday I
went to the Grand Opening party of the Hamilton
Stage for the Performing Arts.  Coincidentally, the
Hamilton Stage is located in the same building that
used to house the Telephone Company.
 
 
Hamilton Stage has a performance area, rehearsal
room and a multipurpose room that would be perfect
for corporate meetings.
 
 
Saturday night was the kick-off of the space
and the end result of a lot of work and planning
by many people.  It was a time for people to relax
and enjoy themselves.
 
 
Hamilton Stage is just one part of the
Arts District of Rahway, NJ.
 
Support the Arts in your community.
 
 
 
 
 


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Honoring Women's Rights ~ Week 4

Sunflower
 
 
 
We are quilting along with Barbara
Brackman's Block of the Week,
Grandmother's Choice.
 
 
And since this is about choice, I have chosen
to make a different block.  I am traveling
again and away from home for a month, so I
don't have my stash to pull from or this would
have been yellow, orange and brown.  I couldn't
 print the pdf to the correct size,  I tried
the block given this week and failed.. and
said some bad words...
So, I chose another block that could be seen as
a Sunflower to offer as an alternative in case
anyone has the trouble I had.
 
I also have a lobster dinner to get to this evening
followed by an opening night party so I wanted
to be happy and not frustrated tonight.
 
 
Fabric Requirements:
 
Fabric A: Red
4 - 2 1/2" squares
4 - 3 1/4" squares - Mark
a diagonal line on back
 
Fabric B: Print Fabric
4 - 3 1/4" squares
1 - 4 1/2" square
 
Make Half Square Triangles:
 
Pair 3 1/4" Fabric A and B squares with
right sides together,  sew 1/4" away from
each side of drawn line.  Cut on drawn line
and press to the darker fabric.  Square to 2 1/2".
 
 
Layout and sew 2 Half Square Triangles
as shown and press seam open.
 
 
Layout units as shown and sew
together in 3 rows.  Press seams in
rows 1 and 3 to the outside and seams
in row 2 to the inside.
 
 
Sew rows together and cut a circle to
the size that looks best to you, mine was
the size of the bottom of a glass and
applique as desired, I sewed it with a
small zigzag on the edge.
Square to 8 1/2".
 
Check out everyones work on the Flickr site:


See you next Sunday!
 
 
 
 


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Elle's Kitchen: Crockpot Pork Loin

 
I have to admit, I don't used the
crockpot very often but I found this
recipe and it is so easy and wicked good!
 
Ingredients:
2 pound pork loin
1 teas. sage
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 teas. pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 cup water
 
Glaze:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tabl. cornstarch
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup water
2 tabl. soy sauce
 
 
Trim fat from loin.
 
 
Combine sage, salt, pepper
and garlic.
 
 
Place water and pork loin in
crockpot and rub with above mixture.
Cook 7 hours on low.
 
 
One hour before loin is done, prepare
the glaze.  Place glaze ingredients in a
saucepan and heat, stirring until it thickens.
 
Reserve 3/4 cup of glaze.
 
 
Brush loin with glaze three times
in the last hour of cooking.
 
 
Slice and serve with reserved glaze.
 
Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Elle's Kitchen: Hot German Potato Salad

 
It is Oktoberfest time and this
potato salad is perfect for the season.
 
Ingredients:
 
6 medium potatoes, unpeeled
4 slices of bacon
1 tabl. olive oil
3/4 cup chopped onions
1 tabl. flour
1 tabl. sugar
1/2 teas. salt
1/2 teas. celery seed
1/8 teas. pepper
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 teas. Dijon mustard
2 tabl. chopped parsley
 
 
Place potatoes in saucepan and cover
with water.  Heat to boil, reduce heat to
low and simmer covered for 25-30
minutes or until tender.
 
 
Cook bacon in skillet until crisp, crumble.
 
 
Clean skillet, add oil and onions and saute
for 3 to 4 minutes.  Stir in flour, sugar, salt,
celery seed and pepper.  Gradually stir in
water, vinegar and mustard.  Cook for 2 to 3
minutes, stirring, until bubbly and thickened.
 
 
Stir in potatoes and bacon.  Cook, stirring
until heated through.
 
 
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
 
Enjoy!
 

 
 
 
 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Me Time ~ September 18, 2012

 
After a 24 hour period that I wish I
could forget, I spent a few hours with
my friends at Me Time.
 
 
Here are a few pumpkins I decorated
to give to my friends for their Fall birthdays.
I got the ideas on Pinterest.
 
 
Speaking of birthdays, someone got this
cute little Bernette as a gift.
 
 
Someone is working on a Christmas gift.
 
 
I can't wait to see the quilt made
from this beautiful fabric.