February Means Hearts!

MY VALENTINE QUILT
Today is the Super Bowl, but it is also the day that I got out my Valentine's Day Quilt for display.  I made this quilt several years ago and my skills have improved somewhat, but I still like this quilt and put it up every February.

The quilt is made from a pattern in "Time To Quilt" by Anne Moscicki and published by That Patchwork Place.    I have made several quilts from this book and they are all very easy to make.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

We are also doing a little "undecorating" in our sun room.  We had two large fake ficus trees in the corners of the room that just needed to go.  But the corners needed something.  So we purchased these corner shelves at Target and put 2 in each corner.  They were pretty easy to put up - except that we discovered are corners are far from square!  So the effect is that they are "floating."  I can live with that! 

I purchased some small ivy plants and put them in white ceramic planters, then scrounged around the house for something taller to put on the top shelf.  These two vases probably aren't permanent, but they'll do for now.

The sun room on the back of our house was probably one of the best design decisions we made when building nearly 10 years ago.  The room extends beyond the back of the house and has windows on three sides.  I chose not to put any heavy window coverings to admit more light.  It is painted light blue (reminds me of the sky) and I stenciled a small design above each window. 



As always, my decorating is a work in progress.  Less is more in this room where I try to keep it light and airy.  The views are spectacular every season.  At Christmas, the tree goes where the plant stand is right now and is visible from the family room and kitchen.   Here are close-ups of the stencil that I have above each window.

TEXAS SHEET CAKE BROWNIES

I am a chocoholic.  I admit it.  Today I had a craving for Texas Sheet Cake Brownies which are chocolate upon chocolate.  It is a cake-like brownie with a rich chocolate frosting.  This is a recipe I cut out of the newspaper many, many years ago.  An oldie, but a goodie.

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) margarine

1 cup water

4 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 cup sour milke or buttermilk

2 eggs, slightly beaten

Mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in large bowl.  Melt margarine in a small saucepan and add water and cocoa.  Bring to a boil, then pour over the dry ingredients.  Mix until blended.  Then stir in the eggs and buttermilk.  Pour into a 10"x15" sheet cake pan that has been greased and floured.  Bake 20-22 minutes at 350 degrees.  Frost while warm with:

Frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine, softened to room temperature

1 pound confectioners sugar

4 tablespoons cocoa

3-6 tablespoons milk

Mix margarine, sugar and cocoa, adding milk one tablespoon at a time until creamy consistency is reached. 

Enjoy.

PAM