A few finishes...

 I know that the 4th of July was last week...but I realized that I forgot to show you the finished little quilt..now I don't consider myself much of a quilter...I love it...but I need WAY more practice...this was pretty easy...so I figured I could do it...

 I even got the binding on and finished without ripping anything out and that's a first for me! I took a binding class a while back...Fons and Porters Perfect Binding...it helped and I use the handy directions every time...I don't quilt enough to remember each time...I guess I need to do more! But I must say...it's not perfect...but it's Prim so that's OK...and I am alright with it...that's a first for me...I usually have to rip everything out until I am satisfied...with somtimes is NEVER! This one was fun and fast...it measures 19 x 24 inches...

 Since I was in the quilting mood...I decided to use some of the charm squares that I have had in my stash for what seems like years...I couldn't help but add some wool flowers to it...

 It just begged for them...this is made of Here's Life by Moda...quite wonderful fabric...very Summery...and I had some yardage in my stash for the lining...But I made the inside pockets out of charm squares...with some yardage added to them...I like the way it turned out...OH...I just realized I forgot to show you the back...a big patch pocket with another wool flower on it...you can see more pictures in my Etsy shop if you like...I put it for sale in there...

 I have this bag in my Etsy shop too...this fabric just called to me when I saw it...I LOVE orange...so I couldn't resist...it's sort of busy...Don thinks its crazy busy...but I thought it still needed something... why not wool flowers...of course...and polka dots...I love polka dots too...I use them all the time...

 And I love to applique on my bags with wool...it just adds so much...hand work is my favorite part of sewing...It's been pretty hot the last few days...so last night don surprised me with ...

This! 

He made it secretly while I was sewing...he thought I could use a treat...it was delicious...but I had to go out and walk extra this morning...and it was hot out by 8am!!

So now that I have had my walk...no gardening today...just watering...did a few things in the house...I am off to the cutting board...I have a few custom orders to get made this week...one I especially can't wait to get started on...yes, Judy...its yours I'm talking about!!

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

They just keep on coming...

 By this time of year we have usually cut back all the artichoke plants...but for some reason this year...they keep producing...but it is too hot and they are tough...so...

 We let them flower! Such pretty flowers too...and huge! As you can see the black eyed Susans are totally surrounding them...I have them planted in the same bed...since they are both perennials with different growing seasons...it works out well...the black eyed Susans are about 3 feet tall now...not blooming yet...full of buds though...

We love to eat artichokes and it is hard to let them flower...but the bees and humming birds are sure happy about it...so we'll wait and then cut them back in a week or so...after we and the critters we share our back yard with finish enjoying them. 

Summer is in full gear around here...there are lizard galore in the back yard...sunning themselves on the back wall and porch...they are funny and seem to have no fear of Don or me...they just stop and come over and look at us when we are gardening...Don has been pulling Bermuda grass every day out of the St. Augustine in the back...since they are both grasses with runners...it can be tedious...but it bothers him that his perfect lawn has that unwanted grass in it! The weather has been pleasant...but a little more overcast in the morning than usual at this time of year...my sons have complained that it is too cold at their houses...and drizzly...but they are on the coast and we are inland so we just get the clouds in the mornings here. There are nice afternoon breezes and if it would stay like this all Summer I would be really happy!

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

An easy way to stretch your garden budget...

 I love Impatiens...mostly because they give mass amounts of color...

 In the shadiest parts of my yard...and I have a lot of shade in the back...here in my area...they may last year to year...if they are in a protected part of the yard...another great thing about them...

 You can root them yourself!! And have even more!!I do this by sticking a few of the leggy ones in a small jar of water ...one thing though...keep the jar inside where they can get some light...but not too much heat...I tried this outside once...and all I got was green yuckey water and soggy mushy stems...this is my kitchen window...it gets filtered morning sun...another thing...they will look pretty bad in a day...and you will think it is not working...have patience...they will bounce back ...new leaves will appear...even a flower or two will show up...

 See...roots...this one is ready to plant...I have put them in small pots to root more before I place them right in the ground...but this time of year...it is fine to just stick them right in the ground...give them plenty of water...

Ta Dah!!A brand new plant for my garden!! I planted about eight baby ones this morning and cut some new ones to start rooting...so next week...I will have even more!! I like when that happens!!

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

A little peach cobbler...

 One of my favorite parts of Summer is the fresh fruit...and Don and I eat alot of it...we eat fruit with just about every meal this time of year...peaches are one we really eat a lot of...because we have a small peach tree...this year the peaches were smaller than last year...that may have something to do with the warmer winter and lack of rain...but they are very good nonetheless...so what to do with all those peaches...

 Make peach cobbler of course!! And I have the perfect easy recipe to share with you...

 We bake ours in our little convection oven this time of year...its hot enough without turning on the big oven...

 This cobbler's top is more of a cake...and oh so yummy...

Especially when you add ice cream to the warm cobbler...

So here's the easy...and I do mean easy...recipe...in case you have some extra peaches around...it works really well with blueberries or any other soft fruit too...

1/2 cup melted butter

1 cup + 3 tablespoons sugar

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk...I used non fat...I always do

1 teaspoon vanilla

peaches...I used 4 cups peeled and sliced

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon...I just sprinkle...it's probably closer to 1 teaspoon

Preheat oven to 375

While the oven is heating I take the 8 x8 pan I will cook the cobbler in and melt the butter in that...you can do it in the microwave...but why dirty a dish...I a mixing bowl combine 1 cup of the sugar...set the extra aside...the flour, baking powder and salt...stir to blend. Stir in the milk and vanilla until blended. Pour the batter over the butter...Do NOT stir!! Toss the peaches with the remaining sugar and cinnamon...and place the peaches in the pan on the batter...remember...no stirring this! Bake for about 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown...you will see the cake sort of form over the peaches...unless like me you put too many peaches in...but no matter it comes out that much better!The top will look brown and the cake will pull slightly from the pan...serve warm with ice cream...some people just put a little cream on it...but me...bring on the ice cream!!

The prep time on this is not much...your family will think you are wonderful...so try it...and enjoy!!

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

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!!!