Bags and Blocks and Sourdough - Oh My!

 

    Honestly, I really don't enjoy exercising. I find it boring. And while I did win a few ribbons in track and field as a child, I've always been more academic than physical. But I know that exercise is important, so I try to do a half-hour workout on a daily basis. However, I can go days, weeks and sometimes even months without getting regular exercise. Have I mentioned my insomnia before? It's related to my anxiety and depression, but continual fatigue does make it more challenging to exercise on a regular basis. And unfortunately, even when I was exercising regularly for weeks and months, I didn't see any improvement in my sleep or mental health. And exercise also leaves me feeling really exhausted. Even when I'm doing it regularly. 
    So yesterday, I exercised. And I was exhausted. But after "recharging my batteries" by sitting and reading, I started the laundry and worked on The Ultimate Travel Bag. Between other tasks during the day, I was able to finish the side and zipper strip and got it all together. 

Meanwhile, I had started some "not refried beans" in the Instant Pot, from this cookbook,

planning to make some veggie fajitas for dinner, from this cookbook.

First I had to make my own taco seasoning. The authors of this cookbook must eat a LOT of Mexican cuisine. Otherwise, why would  you need about 3 cups of taco seasoning? And I was foolish enough to make the whole recipe. I could have halved it and still had enough to last me until I die or the Lord returns. I may have to divide it into smaller containers and start including it in gifts - "I'm gifting you a quilt and including some home-made taco seasoning"... 
    Once the seasoning was made, I then had to prepare the "Mexican Style Chicken" (I had removed the Gluten Steak strips that I had made previously from the freezer) and the Roasted Fajita Veggies for the oven. But by the time these were oven ready, I realized it was already lunch time and I was hungry and I still had tortillas to make. So, I decided to just eat a light lunch (normally, I like to have my bigger meal at noon and a lighter meal at supper time) and have my fajitas for supper. So the "chicken' and veggies went into the fridge for later. I had my light lunch and, in perusing the cookbook, which has menu suggestions, it recommended some things I didn't already have, so I decided to make a quick trip to the grocery store. And after working on the travel bag for awhile, that's what I did. 
    By the time I got home, it was time to get started on dinner. I started the Spanish rice (same cookbook), got the "chicken" and veggies into the oven, and then was ready to tackle Sourdough Tortillas. I'll be honest here and say that I looked for tortillas in the grocery store when I was there, but couldn't find ones without L-cysteine, which is not vegan. I didn't know if I was going to run out of energy before I ran out of tasks to complete. But I did end up making the tortillas. I don't remember if I've ever tackled tortilla-making before, but it might have helped if I'd worked with someone who actually knew what they were doing first. I used my large cast iron frying pan, but soon found that I did not need to have it on medium-high, as my initial scorched tortilla shows. 

I think I've mentioned previously the hispanic pastor who shared how his mother's tortillas turn out perfectly round, but his turn out looking like t-shirts and other articles of clothing. I think mine look more like geography - states, countries, continents. Doesn't that one on the right resemble Africa? Or maybe a piece of cauliflower. I then discovered that patting them out with my fingers first and then rolling them with the rolling pin helps to keep them a little rounder. Of course, mine were whole wheat and I used plant-based butter instead of lard. And I found medium-low worked much better than medium-high for cooking temperature.
The "chicken" was good. The veggies were overcooked and scorched in places and I think roasting for 15 minutes would work better than 20-25. The Spanish rice made a huge amount, and is rather flat tasting. I was afraid it would be oversalted and I reduced the salt somewhat, and shouldn't have. 
    When I finally got around to eating, my energy was depleted, and I totally forgot about putting refried beans in my fajita. I had planned on having a salad as well, but by that time, I was lucky to still be standing. 😁 And I still had to put sheets on my bed as I had stripped it to do the laundry. 
    But what about the blocks in the title of this post - well, those didn't happen yesterday. Since our local quilt shop closed, I have no fabric options in town other than Walmart. And they're not exactly known for quality fabrics. I do, however, occasionally use their fabrics, usually in smaller projects. So, one time, when I was in need of a "fabric fix", I picked up 3 fat quarters and a 2-yard piece of solid in a medium orange/peach colour, intending to make something for my daughter, whose favourite colour is orange. 

Flying Geese, left. Flying Squares, right.

I've been making 10" blocks, 

Chinese Coin, left. Propeller, right.

and was well on my way towards my goal of 7 blocks, 

Square Dance

when my block-making got interrupted by other priorities. But most of my quilts lately have been 3-yard quilts, and while I enjoy those as mostly quick projects, they are generally quite simple, and I enjoy challenging myself by trying new quilt blocks. Especially when I can take a picture that's less than 2" square and turn it into a full-sized quilt block. 

This book is my source for the blocks I've been making. And recently, I decided I needed a bigger challenge than 3-yard quilts, and completed 

Bachelor's Puzzle

the final 2 blocks I need. 

Crazy Ann

My plan is to use 3 blocks on point for the table runner and the remaining 4 - not on point - for placemats. I'll share them when I finish. But again, I've got other quilting priorities. The bags - the travelling bag for my grandson, and a backpack for my daughter - were meant to be Christmas presents, so I want to get them done ASAP. Plus some other quilts that need to be completed. 
Future quilting idea: did you know that there are 7 different blocks named "Bachelor's Puzzle" and 8 or 9 named "Old Maid's Puzzle"? I'm thinking of a sampler quilt, maybe call it "Singles' Puzzle Sampler Quilt", using all of those blocks.