Tuesday, April 21, 2015

God Bless This Marriage

Good Morning Friends,
The birds are whistling and the sun is shining this morning, I know it will be a good day. This weekend went by to fast!! Sometimes I wish I could slow time just for awhile. This past Tuesday April 14th my hubby and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.... What a great time we had. I took Saturday night off from work and we went to dinner and to a concert Jason Isbell. It was nice to get out and hear some live music. We rarely make it Downtown together. I go there for work but for the most part we usually stay in our neck of the woods, the country :) Which after a night out I prefer LOL

I have been working on this wedding sampler for my cousin who is getting married in July. She told me that her colors were Blue, Red and Gold and I thought, "what an odd combination of colors for a summer wedding" But them it dawned on me maybe she is going with a Christmas in July theme since the wedding date is July 25th. Either way I am happy to stitch this for her and her soon to be husband. I am hoping to give it to them in person before the wedding when we have our family reunion.


There is quit a bit of backstitching which I am leaving till the end. But this is actually stitching up quicker than I thought it would. Here is a pic of what it should look like when finished.

Thanks for visiting

Wishing you all a wonderful day filled with laughter and stitches!!

Monday, April 13, 2015

many hands make light work

I spent Sunday with my co-workers at a friends farm. We all gathered for a day of planting, tiling and fellowship. It was such a great time spent digging in the dirt and come lunch time that food was so welcomed after a hard morning spent in the feilds...

Here are a few pictures from the farm, which is a full fledge self sustaing farm.

Oscar, he is such a handsome boy

And they just got received some baby Turkeys. They were so sweet I picked this one and name it "dolly Pardon" because they will be using these turkeys for food but I had to take one and pardon it. ..... If I have my own land/property by November I will be taking "Dolly" home with me!!

I could spend every day at her place, it is hard work but so good. I am so thank full she and her Fiance opened their home to us.

Tonight I am resting because she sent us home with small plants and herbs so I spent today planting them in my yard. I can't wait to see what thwy turn into....
Blessings to you all
'
Natasha

Friday, April 10, 2015

Foods of Cleveland

Good Morning Ya'll
It is a beautiful morning here in the Carolinas. This is my favorite time of year here, not to hot,just the right breezes making it feel almost tropical . And I can work in the yard without almost to death :)

Okay, so onto my post about Cleveland Food. Cleveland is a large city with many small pockets of neighborhoods. You have "Little Italy" to the East which is largley populated Italian negihborhood. You have "Slavic Village" where the Polish immigrated to and on the West side where I grew up we had a mix of Eastern Europeans. Hungarians, Germans, Polish, Greeks, Irish and Italians. So when my mom cooked you never knew what was going to be for dinner she got recipes from all the neighborhood ladies.

The food scene in Cleveland,particularly in the Downtown area has really evolved. There are some amazing restaurants that are being owned and operated by top notch chefs. Chefs who moved to places like NYC and beyond, but came back home to open up their own kitchens. I am really proud of Cleveland. This city has come along way, sure they still need work but it was so great to be there during the NCAA Champinships and see the many people enjoying my city and taking in all this great place has to offer.

Here's a fun little link about the different neighborhoods where most of these immigrants settled. some of these places are no longer aound but a few of the businesses hang on.
Cleveland's Ethnic Heritage

So two of my favorite places are not 5 star restaurants or multiple winners of some fancy awards, but they are known for their amazing food and great service.

First up is Slymans home to what I think is the BEST corned beef sandwich around. The lines for breakfast and lunch at this place are sometimes wrapped around the corner. But if go it is worth the wait. Best sandwich HANDS DOWN

Next up is Sokolowskis Unnivesity Inn Sokolwskis Unniverty Inn just across the river from Downtown. In the Tremont Neighborhood. This is a neighborhood I grew up in. I use to take the Rapid down with my girlfriend and stay at her Grandmas house. This restaurant has been around since 1923 and this was my FIRST time eating here... How did I not come here sooner?? Good home cooking run by the family who were there dishing out the food, it is a cafeteria style place, slide your plate down and tell them what you want. You will NOT, i say NOT leave hungry. the portions are HUGE.
Which by the way did win a prestigious award. The James Beard Awrd Awarded to American Classic Restaurants that have been around longer than ten years and are locally owned.

Another hometown Celebrity who has had success in other cities, but being a Clevelander came back home to open up restaurants. Is Iron Chef American, Star on The Chew and owns many restaurants in the Cleveland area. Michael Symon, my father in Law loves this guy LOL

View of the front with the Downtown skyline reflected in the window.

This is what we ate

Perogies, Stuffed Cabbage, the size of a softball, chicken paprikash, just the way my Mom made it. It was SOOOO Good my mouth is watering for those perogies!!!!

Okay, So now that I am starving as I re-read this I best go make some breakfast. But what I would not give to have a big plate of perogies right about now LOL
I hope you all enjoyed this post....
Wishing everyone a wonderful day because guess what?? IT'S FRIDAY :D
Natasha

Monday, April 6, 2015

sewing up a memory.

Good Monday Morning.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and a blessed Easter. I had a very laid back day yesterday. I made our Easter dinner Saturday morning before I left for work. So I only had to heat up the "Cottage Ham" More about that in my next post titled "Foods of Cleveland" and make scalloped potatoes. Which ment I was able to work in the sewing room finishing a piece for a friend.

A few months ago my girlfriend saw a stitched piece I did in honor of my mother.HERE She asked me if I could do that for her boyfriends best friends Mother. This friend of his passed away in an ATV accident and she thought that his mother would appreciate it. I finished stitching it last month and decided I better get it sewn up into something quickly because she was going over there this weekend.

I am still learning when it comes to sewing. But you know what they say? "Practice makes perfect" I think for the most part this turned out great. Two things I noticed, the solid red fabric was sewn a tad crooked on the right and I wish I would have used a different color, like green or tan in place of that solid red. Things you don't catch until it's to late. But all in all I am happy with it. We decided to barter for this. I make this and she in turn is going to paint a canvas piece for me. I am not sure what it will be but I know I will love it.


This is fabric for the back

I have some pictures to share on my next blog posting of my trip back home to Cleveland Ohio. It was a balmy 25 degrees when we arrived there on Friday Evening and stayed chilly untill Monday where it reached 55 and sunny HALLELUJAH!!! LOL We only went for 4 days but next time I am staying for a week. I need more time :)

Wishing you all a great day today.
Smile and stitch on!!
Natasha