A little bluework...

I got this pattern a while back...I was looking for something different to do in the evenings while I watch TV or listen to Pandora on my TV...so I took this out and started it last night. Its a Joann Mullaly pattern...called 4th of July...I think it will be a little over 16 X 20 when I add the fabric border and the binding...so its a nice size...not sure if I'll complete by the 4th...but it put me in the spirit!! It's all blue except a few red places. It is moving along pretty fast too. 

Summer is finally here to stay...the temps are going up...in the 90's now...the nights and mornings are pleasant though...so I have been gardening a lot in the morning...sewing in the afternoon....speaking of sewing...I better get back to it...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Soup and sandwich for dinner...you betcha!!

 Dinner can sometimes be a pain to think of...because we try to think of healthy delicious options...this one was a winner...we love portabello mushrooms..so we marinated the mushrooms in Balsamic vinegar, olive oil and some fresh picked Rosemary...sliced them and then Don grilled them up... we baked up some ciabatta bread...the take and bake ones from Ralphs are wonderful...then you put the sliced mushrooms on the warm bread...a slice of cheese...provolone this time...fresh picked lettuce and tomato...what could be better!!

A cup of home made cream of asparagus soup with it...that's what could make it better. we used non fat half and half in this soup too...we changed to non fat a while ago...I don't notice any difference in the taste...big chunks of asparagus...we always make this when asparagus goes on sale and freeze it for later...oh yum!

What's for dinner at your house??

Until next time...enjoy the day...well I should say evening...its after dinner now!!

Have you seen these...

 Have you ever heard of these flowers before...yep...they're Marigolds...

But these are different from ordinary Marigolds...the leaves taste like black licorice...no kidding...they really do! So I had to have them...because if I ever get an urge for black licorice...I can just step outside and get that taste...now if they only made them taste like Cherry licorice I would be a very happy gal!!!

Until next time...enjoy the day!!!

Yummy peach treat...

This is probably my favorite Summer treat...we have a peach tree...so we halve and peel a couple peaches...grill them on the barbecue...top them with vanilla ice cream...then drizzle them with home made raspberry syrup...oh Yummy!! These are refreshing and so good!!

To make the raspberry syrup I simply take Trader Joes raspberry preserves and stir in some orange juice to thin it a bit...yes...its that easy!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Hiking in Forest Falls....

 I have mentioned to you before that I live at the base of the San Bernardino mountains...this area is a great place to spend the day...there are so many spots to enjoy...many trails everywhere...you don't even have to drive too far to get there!

 Yesterday we decided to go up to Forest Falls...its not very far up the hill...its about 5000 feet elevation and well known for its many water falls...its a great place to hike and there are picnic areas that are pretty nice too...

 Joseph and Selin were up for a couple days...so we thought it would be a fun way to spend the morning...

 It was a perfect Summer morning...not too hot...perfect weather for a hike...

 We went up to the top of Big Falls trail head...there is a place to look out...

 But I wanted to get a little closer...and get a drink of that cold water flowing down...

 So we crossed down across the creek...and found another section of Big Falls...there are about 5 falls up there...this one was the third one...we weren't going to climb any higher than that...a little too dangerous for me...slippery and my balance isn't as good as it once was...

 Joseph was a good son and posed up in an old fallen tree for me!!

 Selin is always full of fun and I caught her playing on an old fallen branch...

 We decided to hike back up to the picnic area for a lunch we had packed...such a wonderful day to hike in the mountains...

 So many interesting things to look at on the trail back...

It was a wonderful day...although any day out in the mountains...especially when my kids are here is a great day!!! Thanks, Don, for thinking of this ...I enjoyed it so much!!

Until next time....enjoy your day!!!

Feeling the red, white and blue...

 Yesterday when we were at Lowes picking up some ant killer...yes...its ant season in my neck of the woods...they're everywhere...not in the house yet...we want to keep it that way...anyway...I spotted some red, white and blue Phlox...the miniature variety...so I got a couple pony packs for the yard and it inspired me to add a bit of red, white and blue to the front porch...as much as I could find hanging around anyway...

 I know the middle pot is green...but that plant loves it there...so I wasn't about to move it...this is a little table next to our bench...

 I got this at Joann's a couple years ago...

I made this a couple years ago...now I have a little different look to the front porch...I added a few more little signs near the front step...I just forgot to take pictures of them...I have a long sort of narrow covered front porch...it is sometimes hard to figure out what to put there...but I'm happy with the way it turned out...I have a lot of blue in my house...just not a lot of red...I like red...but blue is our favorite...we even have a blue car! 

Nice temperatures today...it was sort of cool in the morning...I went out in shorts to garden and had to add a sweatshirt...its cool again now...we have all the windows and doors open...there's a nice breeze blowing through...not much happening in my world...just gardening and sewing...working on a few custom bags and some new things for my Etsy shop...how are you enjoying Summer??

Until next time...enjoy the day!!

Her dream wedding...

 This weekend we went to a wedding in Big Bear...it was the joining of Angela and Kevin...Kevin is Don's best friend's son...Angela had been dreaming of her perfect wedding since she was 5 years old...her sister said her dreams hadn't much changed since then...

 This was probably the most fun wedding I have ever been to...here are the flower girls...yes...those are lollipops they're carrying...I told you it was fun...

 This is Nicole...Kevin's older sister...she was a bridesmaid...all of the family was in the wedding party and the girls all wore black and white dresses...all different with polka dots...and fun beads around their necks...they carried lollipops too...

 This is Kevin...yes...he has an orange tux...and orange socks and converse shoes...Angela had tons of ruffles under her dress and pink converse shoes...the grooms men had black and white on too...with black checked suspenders and black checked vans...

 Everyone was given a box of pop corn and a old fashioned coke as a snack as we took our seats...and a raffle ticket for prizes as we entered the reception line...

 This is the place settings at the table...more fun awaited us!

 And the wedding cake...they used the cake to cut and we enjoyed the cupcakes...

 They were as good as they looked...we did have dinner first...it was yummy!!

 Angela and Kevin's first dance...yes that is a kissing booth in the back ground...

 Don is getting a smooch from Bob...Kevin's Dad and Don's best friend!  

 Did I mention the wedding was in a big tent...pretty lanterns were all around...

 In addition to dancing...Elvis was there!! It was just too much fun...great music, food and friends...

 Don and I stayed here while we were up there...cute little cottages a block away from the marina where the wedding was held...a stones throw from Big Bear lake....

During the night...after the wedding...my sister called...I had a new great nephew...so we stopped at the hospital on the way home to meet Jameson...he's my sister's new grandson...brother to Stella...he is so precious and tiny...I can't wait to go visit him this week again...

We had a nice weekend...weddings and babies...what could be better!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Take time to enjoy the flowers...

 While we were out gardening in the front yard this morning...the mail truck came by and we noticed that the top of the truck was hitting our magnolia tree...so we gave it a little trim...along with one of the branches came this pretty flower...

 So I clipped it off and thought it would look pretty in a small vase on the kitchen table...

 I always think they look so pretty on the tree...but I never get this good a look at one...

I thought you might enjoy it too! They smell really good too...no wonder there's so many bees around it!

We have some what of a busy weekend planned...tonight we are going to the Angel game with my younger sister and her friend...tomorrow a wedding in Big Bear...we have decided to spend the night up there...that way we can enjoy Sunday up there as well...hiking and enjoying the village and visiting with friends we don't get to see often enough. 

Until next time...enjoy your day...and have a wonderful weekend!!!

A little gardening...

 This morning I did a bit of gardening on our side yard...this area gets some shade in the morning because of the trees...a little afternoon sun and then more shade...it can be a tricky area to grow...I like adding plants in pots to my garden and not just keep them on the patio area...some things need to stay in pots because otherwise they will take over...some things I just like to move around...I like the way the pots look mixed in the garden too...they add some height and color and more texture too...we added these little solar lights all around the back this year too...not for light so much...but for mood at night...they look so pretty out there in the evening...and they were only $1 on sale at Target! 

 These mums don't know its time to rest...they keep blooming and blooming...even though I have cut them back...so I give...I'll wait until later to give them another good cut back...I got this plant a few years back at the grocery store on sale to add Fall color to the front porch...they were a great buy!!

 My little doggie is filling in...Anna made this for me a couple years back when I saw one at a gift store...they were asking $50 for the topiary and plant...Anna said she could make one...its just chicken wire after all she said...what a talent...this little doggie looks like Lola...it is sitting close to the place our beloved Sydney would rest every day...I planted a heather in it and it is growing slowly...but filling in...I trim it on a regular basis to get the shape...

 The curry plant is blooming...I bought this for the flowers and plant...not for the herb...I don't really like curry...but I love the plant!

 The peppermint is doing well...its in a pot...it would take over the yard if it were in the ground...I made that mistake years ago...I planted a spearmint in the ground...it took forever to get rid of that plant...it went everywhere! I use the peppermint a lot...its the best for tummy aches or indigestion...I don't get those things too often...but I'd rather eat this than take a pill...plus it smells heavenly...great in teas too!

 We let some cilantro go to seed...it has the prettiest lacy flower...hard to tell in the pictures...its very delicate...great to eat too...we made pico de gallo yesterday for our carne assada tacos...thankfully we have cilantro and tomatoes in the yard...it makes it nice!

 Atichokes are fun to grow...and wonderful to eat!! These grow along with the black eyed susans...they get along pretty well...

 The apples are about ready to start picking...in fact I think I'll make an apple crisp today for dessert...I can make a tiny one...just enough for the two of us! I will start making pies and crisps to freeze next week I think...now that is work...but so worth it...if you live close by...I'd love to give you some apples!!

That's all from my side yard today...this stepping stone has been with me for most of the time in this house...Don had it made for me years ago for a Christmas gift...I love it!!

This afternoon I will be back at the sewing machine...I have so many projects going right now...I need to finish some up...I have a chair in the back room where I have stacked them up...so I can see them and will get them done...I'm working at it...some just need a tiny bit of work...others more...I hope to get that stack finished by the end of the month...that's the goal! Of course then I'll start more!!

Until next time...enjoy the day!!!