Strawberry Saturday

What to do with lovely fresh strawberries and leftover chocolate chips ??!??!!!

Dip those berries !!!

Fresh out of the freezer . . . . perfect on a humid summer day !

BIG YUM !!!!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Random smattering of smiles today !

I love that I can pick up these monsters

on my way home for 50 cents each at a

little farm stand a mile from our house . . .

I'm loving our new bedroom curtains . . .

finally finished them (with no help from my sewing machine,

which is currently on the fritz ! Sewn by hand, baby !) . . .

And, of course, the appearance of one of my very favorite flowers

makes me grin every time I catch sight of them !!

They're about the only thing that keeps coming

back every year in my garden !!

Happy Monday !

(Lots of yellow today !)

Wool In My Mailbox

That's the kind of stuff that makes a knitter's day . . . .

the arrival of NEW YARN !!!

"Walnut Heather" is the color . . . .

. . . just waiting to be knit into a cardigan of cozy, cabled goodness !

(Is it weird that I take my yarn outside in the yard to be photographed ?!?!?

I didn't think so, either !!!)

So what if it's hazy, hot, and humid outside . . .

let the Fall knitting begin !!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Last week was a hot one, and this week is starting off much the same !

Puts my taste buds in the mood for fresh summer veggies and fruit . . .

anything cool and refreshing !!

Here's a newer favorite: Bobby Flay's Grilled Corn &

Tomato-Sweet Onion Salad w/ Fresh Basil Dressing !

(I raced home tonight from work to get this one going !)

1/4 c. rice wine vinegar 1/4c. chopped fresh basil leaves

1t. sugar 1/2t. salt

1/4t. pepper 1/2c. olive oil

8 ears corn, grilled in the husk, kernels removed

1 sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

8oz. crumbled blue cheese

Combine dressing ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Combine veggies in a large bowl, and add dressing, tossing to coat. Season with salt & pepper. Top with blue cheese and garnish with basil sprigs. Can be served cold, or at room temperature.

(I'm not a blue cheese fan, so I substitute feta or parmesan . . . works great !)

Can't wait to dig in !!

Happy Monday !

So That's Why It Costs So Much !

Pottery, that is.

That's what I learned from my recent class . . . .

it's not easy !!!

Especially for those of us who have trouble controlling our clay. I'm not really used to fighting with my material . . . yarn is pretty passive and obedient, you know !! So having to physically force my clay into compliance while it spins away on the potter's wheel . . . that was tough !!

So while I'm definitely not a "natural" where pottery is concerned, I didn't completely suck either ! I managed to produce these little numbers . . .

These are my best 3 pieces . . . and, thus, worthy to be glazed !! I have a few more unglazed pieces, too, but they're too wonky for pictures !!

So glad I gave this craft a try !! If nothing else, it reinforced my love of knitting . . . and gave me a new appreciation for the pieces of pottery I see at art festivals and galleries !!!

To quote the movie "You've Got Mail" . . . . .

"That's why it's worth so much" !!!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

The "Ocracoke Tank" is done !!! YAY !!!

(not planning to wear this one with shorts . . . but it's 90+ degrees here today,

and there was no way pants were being put on !!!)

Happy (3-day weekend !) Monday !!!