Apple Orchard Log Cabin Quilt, in Pieces

Turning my vision of an apple orchard into log cabin blocks. Because the Composer gave me two worn-out shirts.

Hash Brown Quiche, Gluten-Free

Make a skillet of hash browns by mincing an onion and sauteeing it in a drizzle of canola oil. When it's translucent, add in grated potatoes (about 4 medium) you've prepped yourself or pulled out of the freezer. Shake on salt and pepper and cook, covered, until they're slightly browned and seem ready.

Meanwhile, whisk together a can of evaporated milk with 3 eggs, 1/2 t. gluten-free tamari sauce, and 1/2 t. dry mustard. 

Form the potatoes into a crust by pressing them around the side of your skillet (oh, make that an oven-safe skillet!), and pour in the filling you just stirred up. Top with 1 c. grated sharp cheese, and anything else that seems good--crumbled bacon, chopped parsley, paprika, etc.

Bake in 350 oven for 35-40 minutes.

Mostly from the Dairy Hollow House Cookbook.

The Toy Alpaca Breaks the Fourth Wall

The toy alpaca in the kitchen breaks the fourth wall in front of my new paint-by-numbers.

Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

 . . . and they're gluten-free and dairy-free to boot.

In a medium bowl, stir together:

1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy

1 egg

1 cup sugar

and 1 t. vanilla 

until thoroughly blended.

Drop by teaspoonsfuls on greased cookie sheet, and bake at 325 for 10 minutes. Pull from oven and give them the old cross-hatching treatment (gently), then bake for two more minutes (12 total). Remove from oven before the bottoms get too dark.

Dress them up if you want with a drizzle of chocolate.

Bill Forward

Frederick was looking very "bill-forward" this afternoon.

Giles Doing Dishes

So grateful for our gorgeous weekend with our gorgeous youngsters. Cooking, hanging out in the sunshine, church together, eating, some yard frisbee (even if Felix's head did meet Daisy's face and send her to the ER on Saturday night to get her lip glued back together).

Spiky New Succulents

I've replaced the leggy geranium behind the kitchen sink with "elephant plants." They may be too spiky and harsh, and they might not like the light, but they do fill the space well. Maybe they'll grow on me.

A Purse to Match the Tablecloth

Our friend and neighbor Lisa has been busy with the overwhelming project of clearing out decades worth of her parents' belongings. When we went over on Sunday to help her move two refrigerators I found a brilliant cerulean purse (carefully stuffed with a 1967 newspaper), and a matching tablecloth. Lisa insisted I take them, which I was glad to do. Also, I was glad that no one broke any bones; moving the fridges was quite an undertaking.

Animal Orchestra

Daisy's set-up today has all the farm animals playing in the orchestra (or enjoying the show, in the audience). The horse is conducting, the pig is accompanying on the "piano", and the hen is named after our Saudi student.

"Therefore I Have Hope"

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.
The Lord's lovingkindesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Thy faithfulness."

(Lamentations)

Fair Morning

This year we did the fair in the morning so we could catch the dog show. These were some very optimistic dog owner. As in, "I'm sure he'll sit down on command today even though he's never done it before!"

Pigs, of course. I never noticed before today the universal porcine habit of sleeping with your nose sticking out under the fence. I don't know what that's about but it looks like they all do it.

Daisy and goats, of course.

Regency-style pigeons.

And there was a whole poultry auction going on, a fundraiser for somebody's medical fund. So sweet.

 I always love the flowers. They are always humble.

Peppers in gorgeous colors. Literally every entry had a first or second place ribbon so Bella asked someone about it. Apparently because of last year's drought the fair organizers had leftover money to give away, so this year, to enter was to take home some cash.

The rides weren't open yet, but no one felt too sad. Not with the sun shining, the roosters crowing, and a fresh breeze blowing.

Alabama Chanin Jersey: Worth It?

Is Alabama Chanin jersey worth the premium cost? Yes.

 Before any other consideration, this is truly wonderful fabric. The colors are rich and saturated, the medium-weight jersey has a great drape, and--o frabjous day!--the grain isn't twisted. If you've ever tried to lay out cheap jersey, you've probably cried over twisted grain. 

 I think of it like buying yarn. You're going to have your hands on it for hours and hours making a piece to wear and enjoy for years. Is $22 a yard reasonable? I think so.

 Although you have to buy three yards to make a six-gore dress, you'll have plenty of fabric left over for a shirt, skirt, bag, pillow, etc. Lots of value!

 The cuts are generous--if you order three yards, you'll actually get close to three and 1/3 yards, just because it's a giving company. That warms my heart.

 20% off sales pop up regularly. Plan ahead, then bite the bullet.

•this is not a sponsored post•

Lampscape with Sedums

 I study these for new growth while I make work phone calls, which I try not to do after dark, or by lamplight.

Hickory Stick for the Bathroom Wall

Hosting a shower was just the kick in the pants I needed--I couldn't have all those ladies over without getting my stick up and mounted on the bathroom wall! Done.

Rosy Cupcakes for a Wedding Shower

Carol and I co-hosted a wedding shower Sunday. She made these gorgeous cupcakes. I watched her frost them and each took only a few seconds with a large star tip. Strawberry, lemon cream cheese, and chocolate with white frosting.

We borrowed a cupcake stand and I found the perfect topper in my thrifty treasures--this porcelain "cake layer" bedecked with a pair of birds. Of course, I often pull out pairs of thrifty birds to adorn the table, too.

Punch victory this time: cranberry-raspberry juice frozen for the ice ring, and the bowl filled with pink lemonade. Beautiful and so good! Not too sweet. Garnish with lime and mint for best-everness.

Diamonds with Tassels

This is vintage Butterick 7150, some delicious vintage nonsense. Giant diamonds appliqued around the hem of your circle skirt, each with a *tassel*. Because why again?

Log Cabin Quilt Top: Pink Tulips in Delftware

My log cabin interpretation of the archetypal pink tulip in blue-and-white china.

Grape, Peacock, and Midnight

Cosy winter of stitching coming up--just got three lengths of jersey from Alabama Chanin. The kids gave me a gift card for my birthday and I cleverly waited for a 20% off sale to spend it. Grape, peacock, midnight. Yum.

My Own, My Lace

In a yarn shop in Germany I lifted up a silk scarf and crunched it in my hands and vowed: I was going to buy tiny silk yarn and learn to knit lace, after all. And so I did!

 Clara started me off on my scarf on the drive to school. All day I was passing my knitting back to her every five minutes to fix.

There's a distinct change in the pattern where Clara got out of the car. But no matter! It will never show on a moving horse, and I'm having fun, and I definitely understand it better now than I did eighty rows ago. And it feels very very good when I crunch it in my hands.

Rosemary and a River Rock

I think we are settling down for fall. The weather promises to turn (we had a freak straight-line wind this weekend that took out a big chunk of our silver maple), the cherry leaves are blowing down into the pool, and Daisy has resigned herself to some daily schoolwork.

We're just in the process of settling a temporary third daughter in--a lovely young lady from Saudi Arabia will be staying with us for at least the month. Brave girl! Her first time from home, and her first insects, as she is a girl from both the City and the Desert.