Here's the Buzzzzz!

My husband, Mike, keeps leaving the door open to get some air. It keeps making me a little crazy. Especially when the wasps that come in are attracted to the new yellow walls of my office where I am working on the computer. But today we had a new visitor. This big beautiful Dragonfly! I don't think I have ever seen one this close.

Here he is in Mike's hand! I wish I could have gotten a better picture of his sweet little alien-looking face, but he wanted to be off on other adventures, so . . . we sent him on his way . . .

and CLOSED THE DOOR!

Young Women

Here is a new pattern that can be made into a Wallhanging like shown above, or put into a frame with cork board for a Memory Board (below):


Each colored flower has the corresponding Young Women's Value embroidered by it. The quote at the bottom is embroidered saying, "Stand for Truth and Righteousness", and there is a little pocket to hold goals, mementoes, or Personal Progress items.

Can you tell I love buttons!?!

Winter Table Runner

Here is my newest pattern--a winter table runner. The appliqued blocks are out of wool and I tried to keep them to a "nature" aspect of the winter/holiday season. The pattern is just printing and should be available on the web site in 1-2 days. It was quite fun to work on and is a very usable size at about 16x28". The star is outlined in small seed beads. It's hard to think Christmas when it's 90 degress out, but always fun to have a project going!

harvesting

There is something so fulfilling about being able to go to your own little patch of earth and pick vegetables. The last couple of years we have begun anew to garden in a plot that was left to weed after my mom passed away. It has been so rewarding. We so far have had tons of peas, radishes, and green onions. I haven't planted beets since the early 8o's but here is our new attempt.

We will need to work on telling when they are done and uniform in size. We have been blessed with tons of herbs: thyme, Italian Parsley, rosemary, cilantro, dill and here too is our beautiful basil and some of the first green peppers. It is so rewarding and fun to go out each day and see what new gift the earth has given us.

Something New

Here's a little hint of a new pattern that will hopefully be out next week. It is part of a small Winter Table Runner and is at the quilter right now.

It is made with wool appliques

and using Moda's new Glace fabric.

5K Fatty!

Well, I don't know what we were thinking, but 4th of July morning we did a 5k! IT was on my "bucket list" and I have been walking an hour+ every morning with my friend Christine. So it was just something I really wanted to do. And my son Tony and his wife Hollie asked if we wanted to do it together. Now of course, they actually, RAN the 5k--which I had no intention of doing and was not humanly possible for me. But I did it with Mike. We walked it--and I came in . . . LAST. But I finished. And it was never about competeing, but just about doing it. I actually enjoyed it and felt accomplishment . . . and very, very sore and tired!

Summer Salad

This picture doesn't do this salad justice, but it will give you the idea. For the last couple of lunches I have catered, this has been a huge hit--the star of the meal. Maybe because it's refreshing--or maybe because it's light and feels like summer. The dressing is taken from one by Paula Deen. This is one of the best homemade dressings I have ever tasted. I will list the salad ingredients, but not quantities, because that will depend on how many you are serving.

Carmie's Summer Salad

This is how I plate it. Then drizzle the dressing on top. It can also be tossed is a large serving bowl with the dressing.

Mixed Greens (we have been using a Mesclan Mix from our garden with some Romaine--a spring greens mix will work)

Slices of Strawberries

Sprinkling of Feta Cheese

A little pile of diced Mango in the center

Sprinkling of Candied or plain, chopped Walnuts

Dressing by Paula Deen:

1/3 C. Cider Vinegar

3/4 C. Sugar

1 t. Salt

2 T. Fresh Lemon Juice

1 C. Vegetable Oil

1/2 small, grated Red Onion

1 1/2 T. Poppy Seeds

1/2 t. Paprika

1 t. Dry Mustard

Combine Vinegar, Sugar, Lemon Juice, and salt in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and let cool to room temperature.

When cooled, whisk in the remaining ingredients. Chill.

*I don't whisk them in. I put the cooled sugar mixture in a blender and then add CHOPPED up red onion and the remaining ingredients and puree in the blender until smooth, adding the poppy seeds the last few pulses. This makes a nice thick dressing.