Block of the Month Nitty Gritty

yesterday I posted some pictures of the progress made on my Block of the Month quilt under the PROJECTS tap at the top of my Blog. I thought that some of you might be interested in how this whole "mystery" block of the month works.

On the designated date each month I attend a little "block reveal" meeting at my local quilt shop. If I bring the completed block from last month with me, I get the kit for the new block free. If I haven't finished last months block then the new kit cost $6.oo.

The kit looks like this. It contains fabric and directions.

I cut out all of my pieces

using these amazing templates

and this tiny little rotary cutter.

When I'm done cutting I end up with a tiny little pile of scraps. There is not a lot of extra fabric provided, so you have to be very careful cutting, unless....

You buy Block of the Month insurance. A fat quarter of each of the fabrics used in the quilt. I bought the insurance, because I like to play it safe. Knock on wood I have not had to use it yet. I do like knowing that it's there.

I don't know it that helps explain everything, but maybe it gives you a better idea of how I'm spending my time.
Sally

Happy Blogaversary!

I can't believe that I let the one year anniversary of this Blog go unmentioned. It was last July 15th that I started this little piece of myself, and honestly I never thought that I'd still be doing it. It was going to be something to keep me busy until I found a job. Who knew that I would enjoy documenting almost every little detail of our lives so much? Oh, maybe all of my scrapbooking buddies knew. Well, it doesn't really matter. What started out as a way to share our new home with family and friends has turned in to a little bit more than that. Thanks to all of you who tune in regularly to catch up with us. I'm always a surprised when someone mentions having read the blog. It's a happy surprise, just like the happy surprise that arrived in the mail last week. Barb and Jorge, off on their summer vacation thought of me and sent this adorable vase and coaster as an early Birthday gift. They want me to use them on my deck, which I would gladly be doing if it weren't 100 degrees and raining outside. I have the greatest friends ever! Thanks guys, can't wait to give you both hugs in person.

Sally

Producin'

Boy did we make out big time at the farmer's market on Saturday. Our $20.00 allotment went a long way this week. Some of the above actually came from my garden, the beans, carrots and little tiny onions, everything else we brought home from the market.

Peaches, tomatoes, corn, eggplant, bread and goat cheese. Not bad for just $20.00. Alan says that we actually had another 50 cents to spend, but our bag was full and it was time to go.

We had a fun, busy weekend catching up on chores and projects. Grace and I took Alan to see the last Harry Potter movie. We ate popcorn for lunch and then tried to balance that with a salad for dinner. Hopefully when they weigh me at the Doctor's office on Tuesday all of my summer workouts and healthy eating will have paid off.

Sally

Weekend In Chicago

Grace and I spent the weekend in Chicago with our good friend Jacqueline. I didn't take many pictures, but I can tell you that the weather was perfect, we did a lot of shopping and eating of wonderful food.
The reason for the trip was to pick up Grace's visa for Spain. Apparently these things can't be mailed and MUST be picked up by the person they are issued to.
It all worked out perfectly. Highlights besides visiting with Jacqueline were
a trip to IKEA, watching the new Harry Potter movie in the fanciest theater I've ever been to and eating and "touring" the Bass Pro Shop. Hey, don't knock it till you try it. We had the best seafood and wonderful service because Jacqueline's sister and brother-in-law work for the company.

If it weren't for the 5 hour drive which turns into 6 hours because of all of the traffic, I'd be visiting Chicago on a much more regular basis. It's such a beautiful city with so much to see and do.

Now we are home and getting ready to deal with a massive heat wave. The good news is that my tomato plants are loving it.

Stay cool, I'll get back with you soon.

Sally

A Lite Little Dinner

I know that you know that it's HOT. Too hot to cook. My solution to that is just don't. The other night we enjoyed some bruchette and a tomato mozzarella salad with a big bowl of the sweetest, juiciest cherries ever. That's how we stay cool Louisville.

Sally

Baby Giraffe

Saturday was Giraffe Day at the zoo. We were all so excited to get to see the new baby. This is the first time he has been out while we've been there and even though he's 8 feet tall already, he looks so tiny next to all of the grown ups. What a cutie pie. We don't know his name. The middle sized looking giraffe was born last year and his name is

Oliver. What funny animals.

Sally

Cool Snack For A HOT Day

It's July and it's HOT as blazes here and just about everywhere. I'm beating the heat with pink lemonade and the best zucchini bread ever.

Oh, and I added a little honey walnut cream cheese because we had some in the fridge and I didn't want it to go bad. I hope you are staying cool. Let me know if you have any great ideas, that don't include spending a ton of money.

Sally

PS The zucchini bread recipe is under the I Love the Taste of tab at the top of my blog.

Sunflower Power

I really lucked out this weekend at the grocery store. I got this whole bunch of Sunflowers for just $9.00. I couldn't believe it when I saw the price. I almost bought 2 bunches.

Saturday at the Farmers Market, a smaller bunch would have cost me $15.00 I just couldn't do it so I left the marked feeling a little less "sunny".

Kroger to the rescue.

I wish I had thought to plant some sunflowers in the yard, but I think I I just had vegetables on the brain back in the spring. I will definitely remember them next year. Maybe some daisies too. Hope you have a little sunflower happiness going on at your house.

Sally

Thanks Dad

While my Dad was visiting last week he did me a huge favor and hung up a paper towel holder. I know that this is probably not of interest to anyone but you have to understand that I've been trying to figure out what to do with my paper towels since we moved into this house a year ago.

On the counter doesn't work for me. I need my counter space to put other stuff. Under the cabinets doesn't work because there are lights installed there. Under the sink is just a pain in the neck. I think we found the perfect place, and with all of those little brackets holding it up there that baby isn't going anywhere.

Sally

Trickleing In

Not exactly what I imagined reaping my harvest to look like. Back in late March when I planted my little vegetable garden, I imagined by July that I would be gathering baskets full of home grown produce. I'd be serving my family all kinds of vegetarian meals and I be graciously giving all of my extra tomatoes away to my neighbors. As you can see, that's not exactly happening yet. I'm still holding on to that dream, I'm just afraid that all of the tomatoes are going to decide to turn red on the same day and I'll be spending a hot August morning making tons of spaghetti sauce.

Good thing we like spaghetti.

Sally

Happy Birthday Alan!

Yesterday was Alan's Birthday. Let's just say that he's one year shy of the BIG ONE.
I've known him since he was 17, and besides a few gray hairs (that make him look "distinguished") and a couple of little wrinkles here and there, he looks exactly the same.
Alan doesn't ever ask for much, but on his birthday he deserves to enjoy some of his favorite things and I am happy to oblige. (Please get your minds out of the gutter, because I'm talking about food people). Pancakes with fresh strawberries for breakfast and Italian stuffed shells for dinner, and to top it all off turtle cake for dessert. See, easy to please. My Dad was here to help us celebrate and he just happened to have a couple of left over bottles of champagne from his big 80th party in the trunk of his car. Convenient, don't you think? That's what Alan is toasting with, not apple juice. I probably need to get some actual champagne glasses... Anyway, I think he enjoyed his special day and now he's probably glad not to be the center of attention again until next July 7th.

Sally

PS If you want the Turtle Cake recipe, I'll post it under the I Love the Taste of tab at the top of my blog.

The Day After the 4th

Hope you had a lovely 4th of July. It was nice having it fall on a Monday so that everyone could celebrate with a long weekend, but I sure do feel sorry for those folks that had to get up and go to work today. I don't know what the laws are in your part of the country, but apparently fireworks are legal in Kentucky and boy did my neighbors take advantage of it. We heard the booms and watched the light shows until after midnight. The first hour or so from 9:00-10:00 was very entertaining, but after that, not so much. I really hate being a party pooper, but we have a dog and she does not appreciate fireworks. I think she goes into "I must protect the family" mode. She barked for 3 straight hours last night warning us of the danger that was happening just outside the front door. Poor dog. She's off at the doggie spa today, so maybe she's relaxing and having a chance to recover. Probably not, but that's what I would do if I was given a spa day. As it turns out, today is laundry day. Yahoo!

Sally

Happy 4th of July

Hope you are all enjoying a wonderful 4th of July. As usual the weather is messing with our plans. What is it with Mother Nature this year? No matter what, Alan will be firing up the grill and flipping burgers and we will be drinking a toast to the USA.

Click on I Love the Taste of at the top for this super yummy, super patriotic Watermelon Daiquiri recipe.

Cheers,

Sally

It's All Happening in the Garden

Things are really starting to POP! It's about time if you ask me. My patience was beginning to wear a little thin. Today I picked another handful of green beans. It's a good thing that Grace and I are the only ones that enjoy them. I also picked 2 more cherry tomatoes.

I'm hoping to pick at least one zucchini and a couple of yellow squash in a day or two and maybe with all of the 90 degree temperatures we are having my other tomatoes will decide to ripen. If nothing else it sure is pretty to look at.

Sally

DYI Saturday

I mentioned a while back that our white wicker chairs were taking a beating from having to stay outside in the elements. We have had them for about 10 years, but they were protected in our sun room in Iowa. I think one paint job every 10 years is not too bad.

Alan and I headed off to the Home Depot this morning to pick up supplies. I bought 3 cans of white spray paint and he bought a bag of cement and a big orange Home Depot bucket.

I'm showing you the chairs before, so that you can really appreciate how nice they look now.

I think spray painting is one of the most rewarding DYI projects you can do. I was afraid that the paint wouldn't dry due to our high humidity, but it did.

I didn't even have to use any elbow grease. and they look almost as good as new.

Alan's project was not quite as much fun (in my opinion). We have tried just about everything to get whatever creature is living under our cute little out building to leave. The dog can't resist digging and I guess it got to the point that Alan just couldn't take it any more. He filled the hole on the front side of the shed with cement and now he's going to soak old towels in vinegar and stick them down in the hole on the other side (he read this on the Internet...). Hopefully the creature(s) will leave and then he will fill that hole with more cement. Sounds like a plan right? I will keep you posted on how successful it is.

Sally