NEW BLOG!

My DIL Suzie has given me the most wonderful gift - a new, updated blog!  Beginning now, please follow me here:

http://www.ellenguerrant.com

See you there!

Blog Bark

This was posted on Facebook friend  and artist Tristan Robin Blakeman's status today.  I just love it!  Woof woof.

Check Tristan's page for more info:   http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=732277006

What Waistline?

What's a girl to do when faced with this - fresh from the oven?  I don't think I've seen my waistline since the Nixon administration!

My DH just returned from a three-day hiking trip to his favorite spot - the Mt. Mitchell area of the Blue Ridge.  He came home with beautiful fresh NC apples, Amish cheese and other delights.  Since he loves to cook and insists on doing it all himself, dinner tonight was lovely - not a Wendy's salad or a deli wrap which I'd been having.  We had a beautiful roast chicken, fresh green beans, brown rice and freshly baked apple pie. The pie is not at all on my eating plan, but he went to all that trouble and I certainly did not want to hurt his feelings.  It was DIVINE!  I'm really glad he's never gotten into baking  bread or other treats.  I have enough trouble staying "on plan" as it is!  Yowza!

YUM!

 Grilled Scallops from

131 Main

 I treated my husband to an early dinner at 131 Main last week for his birthday.  We were delighted to learn all appetizers, including the grilled scallops shown above, are $5. between 5 and 7 p.m.  I chose the grilled artichokes - DIVINE!  My DH celebrated with a gorgeous prime rib;  I stuck with the flounder and mash.

 Caramel Cake with Caramel Filling

and Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

 For dessert, I baked a caramel cake (DH's favorite) with caramel filling and caramel cream cheese frosting.  The caramel filling, which cooked for nearly 3 hours until I said, "You're done!" was quite rich, prompting me to use just half.  Our son Matthew suggested the cake would also be good with no caramel -  just frosting.

A word to the wise:  Use full fat cream cheese and full fat butter. I realized too late I'd used "light" butter which would not solidify.  So, I added more powdered sugar and additional regular butter to make the icing firm enough to spread.

CARAMEL CAKE

Instead of directions from Kathryn Conrad's MyRecipes, I saved time by using a Betty Crocker butter moist yellow cake mix to which I added 1/4 C. brown sugar.  Bake according to directions.  Let cool.. 

Recipes for the icing and caramel filling are from Kathryn Conrad via a Google search.

CARAMEL FILLING 

Combine 1 1/2 C. brown sugar, 1/2 C. evaporated milk and 1/4 C. butter in a saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.  Cook (without stirring) until a candy thermometer registers 238 degrees, soft ball stage. Transfer to a heat-resistant bowl and beat 3 minutes or until thickened and easy to spread.  Quickly spread filling over cake layer on plate.  Cover loosely with plastic wrap; chill 15 minutes or until set. Spread a thin layer of Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting over filling.  Top with second layer. Frost cake.  Chill 20 minutes or until frosting sets, then cover and chill 4 hours or overnight.  Let stand 20 minutes at room temperature before serving.

CARAMEL CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

1/4 C.. light brown sugar

10 T. butter, divided

1/3 C. heavy whipping cream

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Dash of salt

1 3/4 C. powdered sugar

Melt brown sugar and 4 T. butter is saucepan over medium heat.  Stir until sugar dissolves.  Bring to boil over medium heat, remove from heat.  Whisk in cream; blend well.  Transfer to a heat-resistant bowl.  Cool at room temperature, stirring occasionally.

Place remaining 6 T. butter and cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with mixer set on medium-high speed until smooth.  Beat in vanilla and salt.  With mixer running, slowlyt pour in cooled brown sugar mixtgure; beat until smooth.  Add powdered sugar (I sifted mine) gradually, beating well afer each addition until completely smooth.  Chill slightly for a firmer texture, stirring occasionally.

As previously stated, spead frosting over caramel filling on first layer, add second layer.  Frost sides and then top of cake.  Chill.

Notes:  This is a delicious cake, but its caramel filling takes forever to cook.  If you could find a faster/easier substitute, it wouldn't be quite so labor intensive.  In its original form, the process took five hours.  And I didn't even make the pecan praline garnish!

ENJOY!

Back Soon

Thanks to all my faithful readers for being so patient.  The last couple of months have been crazy.  Regular posts will resume next week.  

Hope you're all enjoying fall!  I can't get enough of it.

Peace!

Vacation

Sunset - Sunset Beach NC

Our vacation this year was fabulous!  Temperatures were perfect and skies clear with warm Atlantic waters of 80 degrees.  Enjoy these few photos of my family.

My nephew Dr. Josh and DIL Suzie help Addison jump a wave. 

Joshua, Addison, Olivia, baby Charlotte and Lisa

Olivia and Suzie get ready to boogie board.

My son Matthew and his wife Suzie at Lisa's luau.

My sister Sue and her husband John

Suzie, Matthew and 5-month old Charlotte, Josh and Lisa's baby.

The whole luau gang

Photo credit:  http://mattandsuzie.com/ 

FIRE AND ICE - Opening Reception

If you're in the Columbus OH area Saturday, please stop by Galleria Evangelia for the opening reception of the "Fire and Ice" exhibit..  My piece Hot Stuff is part of the show.  Details below.

Fire & Ice Exhibit

Fire & Ice
Opening reception Saturday, September 11, 2010
7-9PM
Show Runs September 11- October 3, 2010

Galleria  Evangelia  will present an exhibition of Art Glass and Art Quilts by Columbus’ exceptional  artist in both mediums.

Quilts are presented by  The Art Quilt Network,  founded in 1986 by the internationally known quilt artist, Nancy Crow. From a small core of artists the group has grown to 60 highly creative members from America and Canada who meet twice a year in Columbus, Ohio (and occasionally in other cities) for a three day retreat. The purpose of these gatherings is to provide a non-competitive, supportive environment where new ideas, information and each artist’s most recent works are shared.

Many Art Quilt Network members have been the recipients of national, state and local art grants and awards. Many members have taught and exhibited throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Art Quilt artist include Linda Fowler, Marla Hattabaugh, Frauke Palmer, Gwen Surratt, Susan Voeghtly, Barbara Watler, Georgie Cline, Susan Nash. Pat Owoc.

Glass artist from acclaimed Glass Axis Studio include Brian Beecher, Lisa Horkin, Michael McNerny, Daniel Miller and Daniel Schreiber are among participants.

Galleria Evangelia
4269 North High Street
Clintonville, Ohio 43214
614-354-6557

My Work in Columbus OH

Hello again, dear readers. After an absence of several weeks, I'm finally getting things almost back to normal. 

My piece Hot Stuff will be in exhibited in Columbus OH.  The "Fire and Ice" exhibit runs Sept. 11 to October 2 at Galleria Evangelia, 4269 N. High Street.  614.354.557.  The show features art glass as well as textiles from Art Quilt Network members.

 Hot Stuff

26 x 27"

Machine pieced of hand-dyed*, repurposed and commercial cottons.  Hand quilted with embroidery floss.

*Border fabric hand-dyed by Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka.

 Artist's Statement:  Red hot glowing heat, the brilliant oranges of burning.  These are words which define FIRE to me.  HOT STUFF, with its random movement, conveys the sporadic rampage of fire - the unpredictability of its course.

Tragedy Averted!

I was awakened this morning by a tremndous noise and concussion which shook the house.  "What was that?" I yelled.  No response.  A quick look from the bathroom window into the backyard showed nothing. I then heard rapid knocking on the front door just as my DH burst in through the back door.  "Are you OK?" I heard our neighbor Liza ask.  She'd heard the noise and rushed here from four houses away.

My DH and Numa, our grandpuppy, had been in the garden when Bill suddenly heard a loud pop/crack.  He looked up just in time to see a 60', 24" diameter portion of the neighbor's giant oak tree heading straight for him - fast!  He and Numa took off on a dead run, narrowly escaping the crush.  The tree reached half-way into our garden, where my DH spends much time.  He and a young couple had been standing just under the tree late yesterday, searching for their lost dog.  If the limb had fallen then, all three might have been killed.

The limb - so big I literally thought it was a whole tree at first glance - fell across power lines, disconnecting electricity, phone and cable.  It also knocked out a window and crashed through a corner of the garage next door as well as damaging my DH's car.

What happened this morning was yet another reminder of how precious each moment is.  Had my husband not been fleet of foot, well...............I don't even want to go there.  He said "It was literally like running for a bunker in Vietnam and hoping I'd make it."  He's safe.  Numa is safe.  The other stuff is just that - stuff.

Duke Energy was here within 30 minutes to pull a new line.  The cable is being repaired as I write.  The phone?  "We'll try to get someone out there by 6 p.m. FRIDAY!"  FRIDAY????? How can they be that busy, when almost no one has land lines now?  They've probably had to lay off their repair crews due to lack of business.

I'm posting from my DH's wireless laptop.  My computer is DSL - so no internet for days unless I get a tv crew out here for an "Action 9" report from the back yard.  I'll post photos after phone service is repaired.

We had a very close call this morning and know how very blessed we are.  Be safe, everyone.

Update:  All systems are up and running.  The phone guy (Scott, who was wonderful) arrived after 5 and spent nearly two hours rigging a temporary fix.  We now have both phone lines and DSL operating.  We're not sure whether my DH's threat to call action 9 or have a press conference at corporate headquarters five blocks from here was what did the trick, but our file had been marked "highest priority."  If you want action, you have to make some noise.

As the day has passed, I've felt more and more emotional about this morning's event.  That tree came down in probably less than three seconds, and yet my DH and our grandpuppy escaped.  I've just had an "adult beverage." 

Happy Birthday!

Our only child is 31 years old today.  Thirty-one!  Just before our son was born, my Mother told me, "Your lives will never be the same."  How wise she was.  There just aren't words to express how we feel about Matthew.  I would never have believed it possible to love someone that much.

July 29, 1979

The first time ever I saw his face.

My DH Bill holds Matthew for the first time.

Matthew and his wife Suzie

outside Thai Bangkok

July 28, 2010

We had an early birthday celebration yesterday.  It was grand!

Happy Birthday, Matthew.  We love you to the moon and back!

Thrifting Mondays

I've been told my computer is a dinosaur, even though it seems I just bought it.  My DH has found it has almost no RAM.  Consequently, it has begun to "act its age" - grinding slowly away.  My son worked on it recently, pronouncing it a "major fail" and advising, "Mom, you need a Mac."  The CD burner and scan functions have disappeared.  Today, it refuses to read memory cards.

So what we're left with for Thrifting Mondays are photographs of things already uploaded.

 Thrift shop quilt.

It's just big enough to cover a double mattress.

 I bought this humble quilt just to use as a snuggleup.  The fabrics are unusual - both cottons and flannels.  I'm usually pretty good at dating fabrics, but came up empty on this one.  New? 1980s? Curious minds want to know.  What do you think?

Target of Love - a clue to newness?

Maybe it's made from scraps - old and new.

The white designs are actually machine-embroidered on the red fabric.

I'm leaning more towards "new" all the time now.

Should have rotated this picture for you.  Sorry.

The quilt backing is also pieced.

Let me know what you think about this quilt's age.  It has no label, no ID of any kind.  But it just felt cozy, so came home with me.