Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Flower Pot Measuring Spoon Holder

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

Here is a couple of cute photos for this weeks Vintage Thingie Thursday!! 

Friday, will be the last post for In The Bag Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge. I will announce the winners of the people's choice and the other prizes that were random draw! That was a fun challenge this summer and so glad so many decided to participate!!

If you are looking for a cute Christmas gift and an inspiring story, check the post before this one....it is adorable and very awe inspiring.....at least it was for me!!

 Here is a vintage pottery FLOWER POT Measuring Spoon Holder made by Cardinal China Co. with  4 original plastic spoons.

 It measures 5" tall--can either stand alone or hang up. Very minor age crazing but overall very good vintage condition. Looks like McCoy Pottery.

Sitting on a shelf, cabinet or hanging on the wall, this is very cute kitchy decor. Not a bad find at a local tag sale for $2.00.

And would  you just take a look at this next picture!! I wish I could say this is my photo, but it is not, a friend had posted it on facebook as a pinterest find. I have enough of the hankies...I just need a pretty yellow door and I'd be all set!! I love this...so pretty!!

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!! Have a great week everyone!!

Favorite Thing Christmas Gift Idea ~ Christmas Bear

                                                                     Photo from Mad Man Knitting Blog

This time of year, I keep my eyes open for unique gifts. Sometimes, I find unique gifts that I want for myself. This is absolutely one of my all time favorite gift ideas that I have come across in a long time. At first glance, this Christmas bear really does not look much difference than any other ordinary Christmas bear.....but when you look closer, and read the story...it certainly will touch your heart, at least it did mine...and my husband is ordering me one for Christmas!!

I really don't have a clue how I found the website, or much less the facebook page, but below is the exert from Mad Man Knitting's Facebook page...and I know it will stir some interest to dig a little deeper as it did for me

Mad Man Knitting: A year ago I lost everything and had to find a way to feed myself. Somehow, I fell back on my old hobby of knitting to survive. What was a born was a teddy bear that has grown in popularity and adoration.

I quickly discovered not only the Facebook page but also a blog...and well, you know how we all love to find a new blog! There on the blog you will find a link to all of his wonderful bears.

Mad Man Knitting has set a goal for himself to only make 100 of these Christmas bears. I am assuming they are made by order, but only 100 will be made. They are very inexpensive and there is a link here and here to the blog post that talk about the Christmas Bears. How inspirational to read about someone who decided not to feel sorry for himself and put forth a plan to make it one way or another.

                                                                       Photo from Mad Man Knitting Blog

So as we head into the holiday season, this is the first on my list of Favorite Things, from me, The Coloradolady.

Stop by and have a look around, you will be inspired I am sure as I really felt inspired and touched as I read about this incredible man. Oh, and just to be clear, Mad Man Knitting has no idea who I am, has never heard of me, and has no idea I am putting his bear on my favorite thing list this holiday season. But, that bear is clearly one of my favorite things...as well as the man and story behind its creation!

My Politically Incorrect Quilt - Tea & Friends Quilt

Earlier this year, my blogging friend, Anne asked me to help her with a project making a quilt block for a sick little girl....you may remember the story about Shannon and then baby Crew needed a quilt too and we were able to make two quilts and share them with the families. I pieced the quilts and Sue quilted them and with the efforts started by Anne, we were able to get them to the families.

During the process, and one of the emails back and forth to my friend Anne, she made the statement that she knew the families would treasure their quilts. She also said that she had a quilt from Walmart (help us all) that she used to snuggle with and she knew someone put time and effort into making it special too. Sorry....Anne... but I just don't buy that! So I started brainstorming and trying to find a pattern that I could make Anne a quilt. Not a quilt like you would buy from... ahem...Walmart but a quilt made with love and one she would think it to be special when she received it.

                                                        (Click photos to enlarge)  

One day while out thrifting, I found this book, and honestly did not even know if I could make the blocks in the book or not.Nonetheless, I purchased the book and thumbed through it. I soon found it had a tea cup block and was thrilled to discover it had a tea pot block too! The last photo in the collage picture shows the books diagram of how to make the blocks work together.

Now, it just so happens that Anne collects tea pots and tea cups and loves all things tea! So the plan was formed and I decided to try and make the blocks.

The blocks turned out to be rather easy and I was proud of the fact I was able to make them. One day, I posted the pictures online in a flicker group and stated I was making a quilt for my friend who was a collector of tea cups and tea pots. (This is where my politically incorrect statement comes in)

Shortly after posting pictures of my blocks, I received an email from a lady who rather abruptly told me that if my friend was indeed a collector of all things tea, then she would surely notice that these are not "Tea cups" but more like plain ole MUGS. Seriously, I see tea cups and saucers, she saw MUGS, but then again I am not a collector. She also told me the blocks were politically incorrect and any collector would know the difference. Okay...well, Thanks.

Wow. wow. wow. I was really disappointed in my efforts as I started doubting myself.  First I questioned the blocks and was sorry they did not look more like dainty English tea cups. Then, as there was no plan or pattern for the quilt, I had to make everything work....and a math wizard I am not...so it was lay it all out and MAKE IT WORK for me! I really was worried from that point on about my abilities to finish and it be "correct" if not Politically anyway.

 I responded to that lady, who was not very nice with a simple email that said my friend would love her quilt and further more...my friend was not very worried about anything being politically correct, least of all the tea cups on this quilt. Then I hit send and hoped I was right in my efforts and thinking.

I finished the top, and sent it off to Sue to do the quilting. She agreed to do the quilting for Anne's quilt and it really for me added an extra touch of specialness to the quilt that I was hoping for. I felt it fitting since we worked together on Anne's projects together earlier in the year with the other quilts.

The quilting is so pretty on this quilt, it is so hard to get it to show up in these photographs.

I used nothing but scraps for this quilt and thought it turned out great. I represents for me the blogging world and how we are all so different, but when we decide to do something together, it all turns out beautiful. And sometimes, you just have to ignore the ones who want to rain on your parade!! Best just pour yourself a cup of tea and shake it off!

Once the binding and the label was on the quilt with the label, I mailed it off to Anne in Colorado last week. A quilt made by two of Anne's Texas friends to warm her heart and to keep her warm this winter!!

When Anne received her quilt she emailed me and was thrilled!! And guess what....she never mentioned the fact the these tea cups looked like mugs....thank goodness!!

Tea and friends are a great combination......and I am glad Anne now has a quilt that was not made specifically by an unknown working for a company that supplies Walmart!! This quilt was made by special blogging friends who wanted to surprise their friend, and did it in a big way.

                                               Anne, my Aunt Lavoice, and Me

This photo was taken when we met Anne for the first time last fall! That was a special and very unforgettable day!! We had such a good time!!

This quilt is now at its new home in Colorado with Anne, and hopefully warms not only the body this winter, but the heart as well every time it is used!! Surprising others is what makes my heart sing!!! Thank you Sue for all your hard work in helping to make this come together!! It turned out beautiful, just like our blogging friend, Anne.

Fall Recipe: Apple Bundt Cake

Fall is finally in the air here...and it is about time, it is almost November for goodness sakes!! Cold front came in today and cooled things off and I decided to make a cake that is perfect for fall weather....and it is so very good and easy! What a great combination!!

Apple Bundt Cake:

You will need.....

3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tsp vanilla
1 can Premium apple pie filling

How to:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bundt cake pan or tube pan.  Mix 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle sides and bottom of cake pan.

Combine the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a large bowl. Stir in the oil, eggs, orange juice and vanilla. Mix well. Stir in the pie filling and pour evenly into bundt pan.

Bake for one hour uncovered. Cool for 15 minutes and turn out onto a cake plate.  Drizzle with glaze if desired.

For glaze: Beat with mixer 1 cup powder sugar and 1 Tablespoon orange juice for one minute or until smooth. Add additional orange juice for desired consistency. Pour over cake.

Funny story....my husband came home from work and saw the cake....he made the comment to the fact that I made a bundt cake. (not his favorite, his favorite is chocolate)  I said  yes I did.

After supper he asked what kind I had made, he asked it if was a strudel cake? I said no.....it was an Apple Bundt Cake. He looked weird, and said he did not know that they made that kind. I looked at him and said What kind?? and who is They? Then it all became clear as day...he thought the cake came from a box mix. I quickly informed him that cake was made from scratch....and his only reply was "Oh Yum, what a good wife!" Somehow, that made all the difference in knowing it was not a box cake!!

Men.....they are so funny.......well, at least mine is !

Hope you enjoy the recipe and cake...it is perfect for the fall weather and is moist and so good!! The apples are amazing with the cake and it is a perfect combination.

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Halloween

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This is my cute little Halloween Lamp that I have fond memories of as a child. This was my mom's and I talked her out of it a few years ago. I think it dates back to the late 60's or early 70's.

I can remember thinking what a scary looking skull head and why was the cat standing on it? ~ funny how you look at things differently as an adult.

This is a cute pumpkin I purchased about 21 years ago. It is made out of an old quilt scrap. You can even see a little bit of old rust spots on the fabric. I really like this little pumpkin and use it every year.

Here is a shot of two of the pumpkins. I usually leave these out all the way up until Thanksgiving. I think they are a cheery pair.

Hard to believe Halloween is next week and then November already! I don't know what has happened to this year....just gone!! Too  Quick!!!

Be sure to click back to the post earlier this week and vote for your favorite quilt made from ugly fabrics in the In The Bag Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge. Thanks so much!!

Coming Soon on The Coloradolady Blog

I wanted to give a little information on a few things coming up here on The Coloradolady blog. I am doing this so you will be sure to come back and participate!!!

First:

 This week....I will be doing a post about the conclusion of the "In The Bag ~ Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge" I am going to have a post up with a link to the flicker page and would like to ask everyone to pay that sight a visit and then come back here and cast your vote for your favorite quilt made from ugly fabrics. Tell you friends....just come back and vote. The quilts are amazing.....and it is hard to have a favorite...but at least try to find a favorite!

If you have not visited the blog set up for that quilt challenge, please click here and have a look around, you will be amazed.

***but don't vote yet......later this week!!!

Second: 

I'd like to mention the Secret Santa Swap that I hosted last year.

The Secret Santa Soiree - I did this last year and it was a lot of fun. However, it was a LOT OF WORK, thus I am really hesitant to do it again this year. I have already received a lot of emails about whether I was doing this again this year so I thought I'd go ahead and address it now. It will be a stretch, as I just don't have as much free time these days as I have in the past. However, I have decided to host this again this year. Signups will be in a couple of weeks and this year there will be a cut off as to how many I can let in the swap. I have not decided on a number yet....but will do so in a few days.

** Please note....there are rules with the Secret Santa swap which need to be followed. They are very simple and are in place to make sure everyone has a great experience. If you were one of the folks last year that either bailed on your partner and did not follow through, or did not follow through with what you agreed to do once you received your gifts, please let me just say, you don't need to sign up this year. I have kept all the records from last year and will check against my notes. Just letting you know up front. ** If you were a part of the swap last year and have any input at all as to how it was run, or what might be an easier way to do things, I am certainly open to any suggestions.

The deadlines will be earlier than last year as to hopefully eliminate gifts being late in arriving. It will be opened to international swappers as it was last year, and that is the main reason for the earlier deadlines.

I hope you will come back and vote this week!! There is a great prize package for the winner of the Viewer's Choice award, as well as some prizes for other participants that will be by random draw.

I don't want to scare you away from the Santa swap, if you participated last year, I hope you loved it as much as I did. It is a great diversion during the holidays and it is a lot of fun!! Think about it.....lots of fun stuff coming up and you don't want to miss out!!

Have a great week!!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Huevos Rancheros Recipe

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This week, I am sharing a vintage recipe for making Huevos Rancheros like my grandma used to  make. I actually thought I had shared this recipe before and discovered when I was going to forward the link to someone is when I found I had not posted it. So....here is a old family favorite from when my grandma used to make breakfast for us when we were little. 

These are chiltepines peppers.  My grandma had a bush growing outside her kitchen door. I have had these plants in the past, but last winter, they did not make it. My brother bought me a new plant and once again I am getting great chili petines peppers.  This is the main ingredient in the Huevos Rancheros. You will need about 5 or 6 peppers.

slice about half an onion into slices. Toss in a cast iron skillet.

add a little bit of salt. I just pour some in my hand and throw in. Cook the onions until translucent, not too done.

add some minced garlic. If using pods, I use about 3 pods and mince well. You can also use the minced garlic in a jar, just toss some in...about a teaspoon and a half.

You will need to grind your peppers and crush your tomatoes for the hot sauce. This is my grandma's  molcajecte, and it is for grinding spices.

keep a good watch on your onions and garlic...do not cook to dark.

grind your peppers and then add your tomatoes from a can. I use the whole can just crush tomatoes well and mix with peppers.

grind and mix well.

pour crushed tomatoes and peppers into your onions and garlic mixture. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Be sure to add all the juice from the canned tomatoes as well.

This should be what you have when you have simmered and cooked the sauce. Yummy.

This is my vintage thingie! My grandma used this for years when she made flour tortillas. She would heat this up to very hot and add the flour tortillas to heat.

I have no idea what this "thingie"  really is called...but it was hers and I use it today! (great memories)

Fry your eggs to however you enjoy them, top with your hot sauce and add a flour tortilla, and there you have it...Huevos Rancheros just like my grandma made....it is a great breakfast!! The hot sauce will keep in the frig for several days so you can enjoy this over the course of a week or weekend.

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!! Hope you enjoy the recipe!