It's been a while . . .

My intentions for this year are to blog more often but time sure does fly by!  I have been busy reading everyone's blogs and just with "stuff" in general.  Just put a pot roast into the slow cooker with lots of veggies for dinner.  I never could get a roast to cook to perfection before in my life, so I never made many.  A friend told me how she cooks them so I gave it a try.  Now I've made quite a few this year already!  First, mix an envelope of dry onion soup mix with a can of cream of mushroom soup (I use the cream of mushroom with roasted garlic because it adds a whole new layer of flavor to everything, try it in green bean casserole, it's amazing!)  Put a bit of the soup mixture into the bottom of the slow cooker, next the chuck roast.  On top of that add the carrots, potatoes, onion, celery and mushrooms, and any other veggies you want.  Add the rest of the soup mixture and about a 1/2 cup or so of water.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Put the lid on and let it cook 4 - 6 hours till it is tender.  The cooking time depends on your slow cooker and how big the roast is and how many veggies.  Doing it this way, it always turns out great for me now.  Well, that's what's for dinner tonight.

March has been a busy month.  My Dad turned 91 and my husband and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary ( wish I could say it was the 40 something one but it took a long time for our paths to cross!) .  I have still been busy hand quilting our swap quilt, only two more blocks to go.  When I get those done, then I will start on the triangles along the edges.  I set the blocks on point, so have to do the edges.  But, for now I have put that project aside and have been making this:

My sister who lost her husband last year has had a year of so many changes.  In the fall she moved from the house they had lived in for many years in the country into a house she bought in town.  I am making this as a house warming gift for her.  It is a Jan Patek design called "Three Cabins".  My focus for the last month has been getting it pieced and quilted.  I have about 1/4th of the quilting yet to go.  That will be done in a few days and can get the binding on and finished.  I will share a better picture once I get it mailed to her. I have a list of new projects to start but need to get her quilt finished first.

Since the beginning of the year I have been very lucky and won several giveaways on blogs. One was from Ruth, she sent me these beautiful goodies.

I love the fabrics and can't wait to use them.  The pin cushion is adorable, I can't bring myself to stick pins in it, it is so cute.  Thanks Ruth!

I also won a kit for a set of pillowcases from Quilted Works, Inc from a tutorial with a giveaway at Stash Manicure:

It is the fabric kit on the left.  These will be very cute when I get a chance to make them!

And the kit for this little pincushion:

This is from Katie at From our hutch to yours .  I have been wanting to work with wool applique.  Thanks Katie!   

I also won a Clearly Perfect Angles template for sewing perfect 45 degree angles from Kari at New Leaf Stitches, I haven't had a chance to try it out yet but it looks great for half square triangles.  And last, a 6.5 inch square ruler from Jo at Jo's Country Junction.  Jo had tried out The Cutting Edge ruler that helps keep your rotary cutter sharp as you cut but she did not like it so she did a giveaway.  I am anxious to try it out and see if I like it or not.  I will let you know.  

After this unbelievable stroke of luck I have stopped entering giveaways for a while.  I should have purchased a lottery ticket in there to see if I could have won, lol! ! !

We have been doing a bunch of yard work, too.  Those elm hedge trees in our yard needed some trimming again this year.  Those are mostly done now and cleaned up.  DH decided to completely remove 5 or 6 of them.   I will have room to get a few more large containers for tomatoes and other veggies for my garden.  

Guess I will stop with one more picture:

The daffodils I planted last fall are looking so cute against the rocks bordering my back yard!  I might plant some more for next spring.  Well, dinner is starting to smell really good and I can sew for the rest of the afternoon while it cooks!  Have a great weekend!