Purple cabbage, green peas and orange bowls

This was our supper tonight.....the only thing that is left is the bowl and the chopsticks.....oh, and the pretty fabric by the awesome Valori Wells! The fabric is from her Urban Flannel line. So soft, and velvety and fun to work with! I'm going to have to get some more.



Look! I even caught the golden light of summer, the best evening rays of dappled, golden sunlight! Summertime, how I love thee! (can you see it, hovering over the bowl, like a golden glow!)



Purple, orange and green.......very summery indeed.



I have been working on the sweetest little baby quilt all afternoon........using up some delicious scraps, and some cozy flannels by Valori Wells. Thank you, Valori!

Almost there

Almost there with the little twin size quilt or throw....whatever you want to use it for quilt...........so colorful and vibrant!



and again, up close..........I just love Anna Maria's fabrics!
I just need to sew the binding on.





Here it is draped over our bed........couldn't wait to lay it out and admire it after it came back from the quilter's. I LOVE IT!



...and the backside.....some lovely, earthy linen mixed with my leftover scraps.....abstract and scrappy. FUN! It will be sooo cozy to curl up under. I just might put it for sale in my shop.

We'll see. Check back in. ~

Happy Wednesday.

First fruits

Nothing better than fresh, summer fruits and vegetables! Oh yeah! My all time super food is spinach. It is oh so good and oh so good for you. Full of protein and good fiber. We're enjoying our first vine ripened tomatoes on salads.



Oh, and I told you earlier I had my urge to make some homemade jam. Today was the day! Got my jars into the dishwasher early this morning, to come out all squeaky clean and hot. Making jam is really not that difficult....it's just getting everything all coordinated and ready to roll. You have to have hot, dry jars ready to pour the hot jam into, right at the right time. Somehow I ended up running into the lunch hour and found myself stirring the jam with one hand the macaroni and cheese with the other....oh, and of course my hunny phoned and needed me to fax him something just as I was in the middle of this sticky mess.



There they are, all lined up! Simply satisfying. Peach-raspberry jam.



Oh, and did I mention that my favorite part of the game is waiting for the lids to go "pop", as they are firmly sealed.

Ooooo for Oobleck

Ooooooo for Oobleck...........just what is Oobleck, you're thinking?! Ooooo boys is it ever fun for kids of all ages! It's non-toxic, good old fashioned fun. (unless you or your child is allergic to cornstarch or water) Kept my kids busy for at least an hour. You can put it up and use it again, later on. So, it's basically two parts cornstarch and one part water. I suggest using a plastic tub that is long enough and low enough for your little ones to get their hands in and out of. We used smallish round bowls, and next time we will definitely use a long, low, tub. (Oh, and you can add a couple of drops of food grade coloring if you like)~



Check out these guys running and wading in Oobleck. Ewwww yucky!



Here is another write up on Oobleck, for your making pleasure.



....and one more, about Dr. Suess's book!



Fun times! Messy YES, but fun, YES! Just don't let your kid eat it.

Summer Lovin'

More beach fun........

One big nosy beach rock!

yes, those are big, furry, wet seals on the beach...........

her stash of treasure on the beach blanket..........

tiny hands, tiny shells........

....running in the woods is oh so fun...for the young and young at heart!

Small happiness = big happiness

Do you ever make something and then it gets covered up on your desk by piles of fabric, paper, and stuff? I unburied this cutie quilt this morning and finally hung her up ............ here she is in her new home in our bathroom with this little grouping.......



Summery and colorful............ brings a smile to my face today!



.......oh yeah, one more thing........I posted the Spiced Rhubarb cake recipe as promised. Go give 'er a try! SO YUMMY~

Patriotic pleasures

Rhubarb Spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting........made from the bottom up! Popcorn on the way to watch fireworks....a longggg bike ride and some quiet sewing time for myself. Ahhhhh....couldn't ask for more.



...good to the last bite!

I am going to post the recipe for these delicious Rhubarb Spice cupcakes in the next day or so.....you really have to try them.* We eat good around here. Too good. What did you cook up for the holiday weekend? Okeee...back to snipping and cutting fabric scraps for something very cool that will soon be in my etsy shop. Check back very soon. Happy summer.....happy Monday.....happy to you.

*UPDATE: here's the recipe as promised!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spiced Rhubarb Cupcakes (gluten-free)

2 cups buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 cup sugar

1 cup tapioca flour

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup Sorghum flour

1/4 cup potato starch

1/4 cup cornflour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 or 4 stalks of rhubarb, thinly sliced

Preheat oven: 350 F

Mix all ingredients in until batter is smooth and creamy. Meanwhile, steam the chopped rhubarb until it is soft. Pour off excess water. Add the rhubarb to the batter at the very end, and fold in. (taking care not to over stir) Spoon batter into cupcake/muffin pans, 3/4 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Frost with cream cheese frosting. **note** You can use the batter to make a sheet cake if you prefer.

(PS...if you want to make this cake using the traditional wheat flour........just sub in 2~ 1/2 cups wheat flour in place of the other flours.)

July festivities and such

Yay, it's July 1st! (well it was last night, when I wrote this post) Happy Canada Day, eh.....to all our Canadian family and friends. In our household we celebrate July 1st for Canada Day, and on July 4th for the American Independence day. In both Countries, there are lots of fireworks.........but I would venture to safely say that the fireworks are a much bigger deal down here. We go BIG, in the US, with fireworks.

Last week I made a fun little pillow for my mom and dad's 40th Anniversary! It's their house on the hill. This photo doesn't do the cute pillow justice......it's really cute in living color.



and the backside................



....some colorful smoothies we've been enjoying during the hot summer days.



yum, yum!