what a good day

It all started with a change meeting at my favorite local quilt shop.

The lady across the counter seemed familiar to me... and she couldn't stop looking at my son with that "why do I know this child?" kind of thought.

"Are you Pam?"
"I'm 'traceyjay.'"

Since then, I've ran in to Pam a few times, and exchanged a few emails (including her offer to pick me up and take me to Pacific International Quilt Festival -- which, sadly, I couldn't attend)...

She invited me to a class in needle-turn appliqué led by Tonye Phillips.  (Tonye makes gorgeous quilts, with intricate appliqué, that remind me a bit of Beetlejuice meets Little Red Riding Hood.)

quilt by Tonye Phillips

But that's where I was yesterday.

It is the first time I've ever had any kind of quilting class, or even sewn with people in real life (not counting my junior high 4-H lessons).

And it felt good.

Here is my first little bit of needleturn appliqué!



Because I was right next door to the quilt shop, and because the boy was at home with his grandma... I did a *little* extra special shopping.

Fabric shouldn't be this pretty.

Naomi Ito for Nani Iro (hope I got those right)

And when it is, it is impossible to resist.

Speaking of fabric... I met the lovely Mrs. McPorkchop at the class.  Not only did the girl make the most amazing egg-nog cheesecake I've ever eaten (with homemade graham crackers in the crust no less!), but she gave me this.

some FMF from Mrs. McPorkchops

The little sproutlings!  I ♥ the little sproutlings.

----------------

Though not nearly as delicious as the aforementioned cheesecake, I did make a favorite salad of mine (that I didn't think to take a picture of until I got it home and was eating my fourth  second bowl.

"Flying Farmer Chicken Salad."

(made with rice from our field... yes, the one right outside my house... yep, we farm rice... don't you think about making this with Uncle Ben's... you can get really good "Calrose" rise in the Asian food section of most grocery stores... yes, it is California rice that is coming back from Japan)

Flying Farmer Chicken salad

5 c. cooked chicken, diced
2 tbsp. salad oil
2 tbsp. orange juice
2 tbsp. vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. celery
1 1/2 c. green grapes (sliced)
1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges (drained)
1 (13 oz.) can pineapple tidbits (drained)
1 c. slivered almonds, toasted
3 c. cooked rice
1 1/2 c. mayonnaise (Don't put all of it in at once -- you probably only need 1 cup)

Mix first 5 ingredients and let stand 4 to 5 hours or overnight. Add remaining ingredients and chill for a couple of hours.

I decided to snap a picture with Pam before I left.  Thank you friend for making this day possible!



----------------------

P.S.  While I was gone, my mother-in-law helped clean my house (which I so appreciate!), so I was free to get this little project started. :)