Tamale Time Day 3....spent

Ok, so my calculations were off... spank me...lol We are done, stick a fork in us, we are done! Yield 22 dozen, after munchin on these things for 3 days...not 40. I dunno what happened? maybe we made bigger ones? Who cares? As I said in the original Tamale Time... it isnt really tamale time anyway, its time spent with family, fun and not fun... and of course...the gift that CANNOT be bought. I so enjoyed this time, and mucho memories made.. ( hmmm a song)

Heres a load the trunk picture...........
And we must'nt forget the PITA PUP pictures of Ginger and Lucy... snatch n grabbers.... yep...Pita pups.
Ginger is SUCH a ham....affectionetly known as Ms Fussy Britches:)
Now I will clean up, and get back to work, yep yep yep... STILL 3 quilts to go. How did I ever think that I would be quilting while tamales were going on? What is today anyway? I'm lost....

Tamale Time Day Two

One would think that Mom was doing all of the work from the photographs, but let me tell you, its just not true!!! This is a HUGE undertaking, and frankly, Im re thinking the whole thing! Day two we now have 13(of 40) dozen cooked and packaged, and a long way to go! I would chat longer, but Moms got Hell's kitchen opened and she chews mine and sis behind for coming within 6 feet of the computer... Help meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

MM-Tamale Time Day One

And What A Marvelous Monday it is!! Guess you know the gratuities this week eh?

And you thought cutting tables was for fabric did ya? Well, I gotta tell ya, there isnt any room left in the house, we needed to wonder out here into the shop! lol I think we scared Walt.. he is hiding somewhere in the house watching football? Im not happy that this pic came out blurry, cause there was but one:( But I guess Ill take it.


40 pounds of masa all prepared and ready to manipulate:)


40 Pounds of Pork roast, cooked, shredded, de-fated.

2 tubs of Hojas soaking in hot water ( that was a challenge being our kitchen faucet decided to die this morning and Walt had to install a new one!



we are tired, yet energized, havent solved any problems yet. Too busy dishing the dirt...lol Just know this.. If you arent here, you're getting discussed!
Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!!

* For Handy dandy hubbies who can install really cool faucets with squirters that reach across the room! LOL
*For Tamale time with family
*For 1004 MP3 Files to listen to!
*For morning Fog Lifter coffee
*For Happy customers who make me smile:)
*For Chritmas pics of my babies cause I cant be there to sit with santa too
*For recipe memory, thank God menopause hasnt stolen that too!

A New Tradition at G's House

In years past Santa has always "outdone" me in the spending dept. This year we discussed how we need a new tradition. We agreed that from 2007 on, we will purchase a trip for ourselves, and wrap the tickets:) It has been difficult to say the least, not to shop for him because I know the little things he has been whining about. But I have stuck to it, because we both want so much to travel. Theres a pretty box, thin and small stuck into the branches of our tree to keep reminding me to be good. The box hold tickets to Maui, for a week to celebrate Valentines day, and I am tickled pink! We will be travelling with our good friends Heather & Kim who so graciously invited us to their condo. I cant wait til we begin discussion on next years trip!!
Here's the bummer.... he is sooo fun at Christmas, I will miss that part! Last year there were several boxes for me to unwrap, and he said Gina.... We are going to play Deal Or No Deal. I had to choose, and keep choosing and this went on and on until all the kids and I were squealing like pigs! I passed on a beautiful Whale pendent, a watch, a flip flop diamond pendent.......I went to the end, last box, no more deals, and there sat the most beautiful pair of diamond studs, and I made the right deal! ( all of the others had to be returned to the store. A real tease this man is.. but a great Santa!
Now why am I telling you this? Well, I suppose because I really love traditions, and encourage my grown kids to make things happen in their new families, and also because I am pleased that tomorrow begins a very fond tradition of ours. Tamale Time, which you have read I am sure. My family will arrive afternoon, and I am soooo not ready, but I will be? I have many pots ready, tools and towels and aprons.. ( I should have made us some cute ones eh?) I just bought 40 pounds of pork roast, and there are tubs all over for soaking Oja's. I'm getting excited!! I have Vince Gill's Christmas music all programmed in so Mom can groan over it ( she calls him a whiner). I have snacks and yummy coffees for me & Sis. I am not finished with my customer quilts, and frankly, I dont know when I will be? But I'm still giving it hell over here ( sucking down coffee as we speak). So, for the next several days I will be in and out and hope to share some pics of our mess with you.
Tradition!!! TRADITON! ( sang in my best Zero Mostel voice, while stomping my foot!)

Happy Birthday Heather!

Here's to hoping that you're knowing, I'll be thinking of while I'm sewing! I love you, enjoy the funny, and have a wonderful day!

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Zoupa!

Its cold here!!! Whats going on??? Makes for good soup days, and I do love soups! (ACTUALLY, IT WAS A GOOD EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP FOR AWHILE U KNOW? lol
This was delicious and hearty, give it a try!



1 lb Italian sausage (sweet)(costco)·
1 TBLSP Olive Oil
1 large onion, chopped·
4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced ·
1 cup sliced mushrooms
6 cups beef broth ·
2 cups diced Roma Tomatoes (may use canned)
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce ·
1 medium Zucchini, sliced ·
1 bag (1lb) baby spinach
1 large Carrot, thinly sliced ·
1/2 cup dry red wine · ( dont forget to drink remainder of bottle while cooking)
2 tablespoons basil ·
2 tablespoon oregano ·
1 1/2 cups (about) purchased fresh cheese tortellini ·
Parmesan cheese, freshly shaved or grated if preferred (I have a ribbon shaver, its a fun toy!)
salt and pepper to taste, altho check for salt first.


Directions Remove Casings (skin) from sausage. Sauté Italian sausage in heavy pot over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking up, simmer about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to large bowl. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add Olive oil, Add onion, mushrooms and garlic to pan and sauté until tender & aromatic, 5 minutes?Add wine and scrap down the goodies. Reduce for about 2 minutes. Return sausage to pot. Add beef broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, zucchini, carrot, spinach, basil and oregano. Simmer until vegetables are tender, 45 minutes. Add tortellini to soup and cook until tender ,10 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese in individual bowls and garlic bread.
MANGIA!!!!

Self Improvement Books

I should stick to my quilt technique books! I dont know why I do this to myself! I am reading another self improvement book, and I gotta tell ya, I have NO TIME for this ride she is taking me on! I dont WANT to go talk to my little girl self right now! We have really ( little G n me) talked the whole life thing out about a dozen times! I dont want to meditate and relax body parts! I have chit to do!!! But WHY cant I put it down? ( ok, take it out of my ears if u will) I found myself going to bed early, to get into a comfortable position, to do yet another mental exercise! Its not mental exercise that I need! ( well, depends on who u ask eh) I am all for improving myself, extending myself, broadening my horizons, forgiving the little girl inside me, but sometimes I just get up and say OH SHUT UP, give that crapola to your Father, and get on with the business of living a happy life! I suppose at the end of the day when I rationalize this, I can say that I receive little different things from each book that I read, that I had not heard before. For that reason, I keep on reading. I wish to always improve on myself. Mom's words ring often inside me. "If you don't use it, you're gonna lose it." Also, I am of the mind that we humans have really not used all of the brain power that we possess. But why must I spend a lifetime looking for those parts? Its taken me this long to get to where I am today, I'm kinda running out of time, u know? OK, so I need a self help book on why do I always feel like Im running out of time?...sheesh... never ending isnt it? So as I mentioned in an earlier post, I am listening to Audible series. Living An Empowered Life, by Denise Lynch. A good read, heard it all before, her voice is a powerful sedative all by itself, and I will go the distance with her, but frankly, next book I read will be on how not to outlive my money or something.. give the little Gina a freaking rest!

( Culture Warrior, Bill O reilly was better, albeit, not self improvement?) ( hmmm, maybe?)