Season In The Pines Quilt

I purchased this quilt kit that my Mom picked out on her birthday 6 years ago and promised to assemble the quilt top. The gorgeous fabrics are from the "Burst Of Autumn" collection by Holly Taylor for MODA. The quilt pattern is titled "Season In The Pines". No, the quilt didn't take me 6 years to make, but I have been working on it a little here and a little there. I really wanted to finish the quilt this year for her birthday (which was in May) and once again, I missed the deadline. Luckily for me (and her) the quilt is finished! She will receive a late birthday gift next week when she arrives. She has NO idea that its done. For all she knows its still boxed up somewhere in piles and piles of quilt fabrics and unfinished project totes. I had it quilted with a pinecone pantograph (see pics up close). It turned out fabulous! Woohooo!

Happy Memorial Day

I don't want to copy from Jenny's blog, but I did want to show off the ribs we are doing today. Beef short ribs done with Andy's famous dry rub. This is a trial run smoking them on Mesquite wood chips on the BBQ. Also making cole slaw (bagged shredded cabbage) with cole slaw dressing from a jar (Marzetti). Quick and easy.

The key to smoking ribs is to cook them slow and low. Tried keeping the BBQ temp below 200'. I've even heard keeping the heat down to as low as 130', but good golly, we would still be waiting for them to get done! Soooooo goooooood.

The ribs cooked for almost 4 hrs. The last hour is when we put a dab of BBQ sauce on them. YUM

Nature Walk at Peterson Lake

Last weekend we went on a nature walk. The trail was a wooden plank walk so to keep people off the ground - very muddy and swampy, not to mention the snakes, bugs and critters. It was a lovely evening and the entire walk was a little over a mile. Definitely a do-over. Here are just a few pics that I took along the way.

Smile, its Friday

Happy Friday everyone!

Rain, rain, go away

A child can only stay cooped up in the house for so long when its raining outside. I say lets put her rain jacket and boots on and let her enjoy it.

Star Spangled Banner Quilt

For those of you who have been following the progress of my Patriotic Quilt, wait no longer... voila...its finished! I used a variety of red, white and blue prints to make the 2 prominent blocks for the top (Hourglass and 9-Patch). I then used a Japanese-inspired floral print for the borders and backing. For the binding I used up leftover scraps. Quilt was then quilted in a star pattern called "Star Sparkles." Turned out super cute. Stay tuned for my free tutorial.

Delayed Easter post

The Easter Bunny left a basket for Carmen at the front door. Inside was the DVD movie Bolt, an Easter board book, a frog-shaped bottle of bubbles, some Dora & Spongebob stickers (her favorite characters) and a fluffy yellow duck.

We then moved to the backyard for the Egg Hunt. She had a blast. The Easter Bunny somehow managed to lay eggs in the trees. Not sure how that happened.

Good Friday

Easter weekend is upon us and I thought I would share things that I am happy about in life.

My wonderful husband
My sweet little girl
My dogs and cat
Good Health
My home
Food in the fridge and cupboards
My sewing machine

Easter ..... ahh the good old days. As a kid I remember waking up Easter morning to a big colored wicker basket full of mini chocolate eggs wrapped in pastel foils, plastic eggs filled with Jelly Beans, a Reese's Peanut Butter Egg, a Chocolate Easter Rabbit (hollow) and some type of small toy - usually a stuffed bunny or chic. All of this sweet goodness was nestled on top of a bed of plastic green grass.

So when did Easter become the new Christmas? Somewhere along the way Easter Baskets started getting bigger and are now filled with Toys, IPods, Video Games, Gift Cards and other expensive things. Get serious!

Easter Bunny

Cutie Patootie

These pics were too cute not to post.

Happy 1st Day of Spring!