R is for rock hound.

”Diamonds are a girls best friend.” – Marilyn Monroe

Most folks collect trinkets on their travels. I collect rocks. Haven’t found any diamonds yet. 

What I have found are heart-shaped rocks. When you seriously gaze at the ground, you’d be amazed at how many there are!

The largest ones are about 6 inches square, and the smallest one is about 1½ inches square.

Now, here’s a recipe

   that 

       rocks

          for 

             celebrating

                New 

                   Year’s

                       Eve!

Bubbly on the rocks

fresh fruit, such as strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple

ginger ale or champagne

Place a slice of fruit in each cup of an ice cube tray. Fill with water and freeze. Fill flute glasses with the ale or champagne, and pop a fruited cube or two into each glass.

And, a variation that masks the nasty taste of cheap red wine: Instead of water, freeze the fruit in lime or lemonade.

Collecting rocks is awesome. Putting them in a drink? Zany!

Q is for quilter.

“To quilt is human. To finish, divine.” – unknown

Well, it’s the end of the year—holiday time—and here’s what’s hangin’ quilt-wise in my house.

The center of each star is made from four identical triangles cut from one fabric—“stack-n-whacked” Bethany Reynolds’ style. I knew about her method for some time but didn’t stack-n-whack anything until I edited one of Bethany’s books. Now I’m hooked on S-n-W. Or possessed. Not sure which. Perhaps both?

The cutie little reindeers are miniature quilts that I pieced, quilted, and then embellished with pompoms, bells, beads, and a wreath.

Sometimes my quilting spills over to other stuff I make, like this envelope that held a 50^th birthday card. It’s my version of Zentangle. My colorful version. No black and white for me!

A yummy and gooey treat this time of year is my mom’s fudge. A couple of years ago I heard on Food TV that the recipe was originally from Eleanor Roosevelt. I dunno, and I’m too lazy to research it. I just rather make a bunch and eat it!

Million dollar fudge

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 tbsp butter

1 can evaporated milk

~ ~ ~

1 pint marshmallow cream

2 small packages of chocolate chips

2 large Hershey bars, broken into pieces

~ ~ ~

chopped nuts (optional)

Bring the first 3 ingredients to a hard boil for 6 minutes. Pour this mixture over the last 3 ingredients.

Mix together thoroughly and add nuts as desired. Pour into a buttered square or rectangle pan.

Make 5 pounds of fudge. Bet you can’t eat it all in one sitting! I know 'cause I’ve tried.

 

And here's Santa sleeping with his pups after he has tended to his reindeer and ate the little bit of fudge that was left over after I chowed down.

Holidays are zany!