New Beginnings ... July

Okay, so I was totally out of it in June and didn't start anything.  This month, under the pressure of having a gift to be made (by July 30), I have a new beginning!

 To be fair, the strips were pieced by someone else, I just cut the squares to size and made the squares from two triangles added the sashing and sewed them together.

This is the quilt top.  Kind of has a nautical feel to it.

Here are the backing fabrics I was auditioning.

The person for whom I am making the blanket opted for the dinosaur print so that's what it'll be.  I've started the quilting and hope to finish that tonight or tomorrow night and then attack the binding.

Anyway, if you feel like joining me in my quest to start a new project a month (or in my case, I'm hoping now for 11 of 12), please link up and leave a comment so we can check out your new projects.

Week 29 - July 19-25

 Saturday - Baseball

Sunday- Sky High

Monday - Thursday ...

Friday - fancy dinner

Okay, I obviously am having trouble with the taking pictures every day thing.  I promise to try harder this week...

July Goals

I know this is late, but I think I should have a few goals for the next week ..

1 - make one Grinch block

2 - start a new project

3 - take a hike

4 - lose 2 pounds

Okay, that's it.  I think I need to make a quilt for someone so I should probably get on that ASAP.  I'm not really inspired but that's okay, I guess.  I have two quilt tops finished so I could use one of those if I get desparate (sp??). 

Weight-wise I'm at a plateau that I want to go beneath, but I don't want it so much that I'm actually doing something about it.  I joined the challenge at work again, but my money has been wasted this time.  It should have motivated me, but for whatever reason, it hasn't. 

 New York - Little Italy

Week 28 - July 12-18

Saturday - Birthday dinner!

 

 Sunday - Sunrise

 Monday - the birthday boy

 Tuesday - Signage at In-N-Out

 Wednesday - Ground Zero

 Thursday - dessert in Little Italy

 
Friday - flying home (blurry sunset)

Inspiration, Mojo, whatever ...

I've lost it and have no idea where to find it.  It's definitely not under the bed, not in the closet (though there's some fabric in there).  I look at fabric and my few projects and don't even want to start. I didn't have a June start and don't feel a July start coming at all.

Happy Birthday Mikey!

Image from here.

Happy Birthday to my #1 grandson (or rather my oldest grandson)!  He turned 6 today.

Week 27 - July 5 - 11

Saturday - Eggs Benedict - at home!

Sunday - Ernie watching over me ...

Monday - Wednesday - nada

 Thursday - devil cat

Friday - Walk about @ Tasman Crossing

Cocktail Wednesday - July 2nd Edition

So, we haven't been keeping up totally with Cocktail Wednesday.  We've taken a few weeks off, but last week's cocktail was wonderful - I'm calling it Strawberry Lemonade.  I think I might stop trying new ones and just stick with this -- though I might try a raspberry version.

It appears we got the recipe here.

The ingredients are:

2/3 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves

(and vodka).

So following the directions, I started with the simple syrup.  Basically, equal parts sugar and water.  I brought it to a boil and then turned it off.

In the meantime, I sliced strawberries and measured out the mint.

 

 

Then I got to the squeezing of the lemons.  We had decided to double the recipe so I was looking at about three cups of lemon juice.  I didn't actually do that much, but it was close.

 

Next, I put the strawberries and mint in the blender, added the lemon juice and simple syrup and liquefied it.  Then I put ice in the glasses, added a shot of vodka, and poured the lemonade over it. Honestly, the pictures don't do it justice. 

Most excellent and if you don't want to add the vodka, it's still a great drink!

The Potsticker Adventure

While my husband was in Maryland/Virginia, taking my father back to his house and spending time with his his mother, my aunt and uncle, my cousins, and various other folks, my cousin (Stephen) was out here visiting his girlfriend and I had the privilege of spending time with them. 

 

Stephen and Ghina

We spent the first hour or so hanging out at the pool (no pictures) and then went back to her house and made potstickers. Some were made with homemade dough -- others with the store-bought wrappers.

 

I would say that WE made them, but this is what I was doing while everyone else was making the potstickers.

 

My cousin's niece (aka, my first cousin, once removed) and her boyfriend who joined us for the cooking.  Turns out she lives about 30 miles from us.  Now that we've had a potsticker bonding experience, maybe we'll see more of her.

 

 My YD and her boyfriend were also there.  They really enjoyed making the potsickers.

Crabs and clams to go with the potstickers!!

Yummy!  Yummy!

Week 26 - June 28 - July 4

 Sunday - potstickers (four step process)

Monday - Surprise visit!!

 Tuesday - World Cup Blues ..

Wednesday - Cocktail Wednesday

Thursday - Handprints (from 1987)

Friday - 4th of July Snacks!!

Week 25 - June 21-27

Saturday - Pancake breakfast

Sunday - TP heaven

Monday - Tuesday - slacker

Wednesday - More Birthday!!

Thursday - Friday - More Slacker!!