"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 !!!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

It's nice to have a knitting assistant !!

Happy Monday !

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

"No need to hurry. No need to sparkle.

No need to be anybody but oneself."

- Virginia Woolf -

The Blues

The good kind, though !!

I found some lovely yarn for my next knitting project (already on the needles !),

and fabric for new curtains in our bedroom (on sale 1/2 price, too !).

Looks like I was drawn to the blues:

The color of the yarn is "Ocean Spray", but that

reminds me of the cranberry juice drink . . . !

The tank top I'm knitting has a bit of a nautical feel . . .

and thinking about all our years vacationing at the Outer Banks . . .

I'm feeling like this project should be my "Ocracoke tank" !!

So there it is . . . "Ocracoke tank" on the needles,

and new bedroom curtains soon to follow !

Happy (blue) Thursday !

Done & Done

Woohoo ! The "Siren Song" sweater is finished !!!

It took a bit longer than I would've liked . . .

but I loved everything about this sweater . . .

. . . from the lovely yarn I chose . . . to the variety of stitches & textures . . .

and not least of all, the eyelet section above the waist that holds a belt,

ribbon, or whatever I so choose to put in there . . . .

LOVE IT !!!

It'll just have to wait until Fall to be put in the wardrobe rotation !!

Until then . . . on to the next project !!