My new pattern

My mail came early this foggy Saturday morning and this from Goode Wife of Washington County.  I don't know if you like deer (they may destroy your fine garden), but these won't be doing that.  I think they will be pretty with some nice greenery.

Happy Saturday everyone, be safe. 

I Want.....

to wear a badge too!!!!

Little Trees

 Kynda just sent me a Pinterest photo of these trees .So much work and detail from a Japanese artist.

These were the ones I made for my craft show, using old odds and ends I have collected. No stand for mine.. They are too large to be ornaments but I put a hangar on them . I am not comparing mine to hers, she is an artist and I am a crafter! 

Beautiful Friday in Michigan, sunshine, sunshine!  Snow on the way they say.

Love Foodies recipe

This was too good not to pass on (if you like brussel sprouts).  Lisa brought in a big bag from her garden, and when I went on Pinterest this recipe popped up.  Must have read my mind:

  
prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for the dish
8 oz Bacon
1 pound Brussels sprouts, outer leaves and stems removed
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Freshly ground pepper and kosher salt to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup grated white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease, butter, or spray a 2 quart baking dish
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the Brussels sprouts and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the Brussels sprouts and coarsely chop. Fry bacon (if raw) until crisp and coarsely chop.
3. Transfer sprouts and HALF of the bacon to the prepared baking dish and toss with the red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste, then spread out evenly. Pour the cream on top, sprinkle with the cheese, remaining bacon and breadcrumbs and dot with the butter pieces.
4. Bake the gratin until bubbly and golden brown, about 15 minutes.

I used monterey jack cheese .And just thinking I could use the precooked bacon and it would be even quicker.  We really liked it.

Unique Trees at Town Peddler

The funnel trees are by Dirt Road Divas.  The last one is made from a tomato cage and that new ribbon.
Hoping all is well with you all!

Craft Show, Lindbergh School, Dearborn Michigan

Tomorrow is my craft show!  I used older patterns to sew from this year.  Turkey Jack is Simply Nantucket, long angel is LaCroix, reindeer is Homespun at Heart and the snowman in the sock is based (loosely, on
a pattern by Back Porch Pickins.  Hope she doesn't see how I murdered her snowman.) .

Have a good weekend everyone!

Lefty the Snowman

 Picking up mistakes and failure scraps from the week, I came up with Lefty (for leftovers).  I hate wasting anything, the head was a little misshapen and the coat just didn't work for what I planned.  The little buttons I ordered for my dolls turned out to be micro-mini because I didn't check the size.  Once I found a needle that would go through the tiny holes, they worked well for his smile.  They were ordered from www.littlecraftcottage.com.

The tags I ordered with Jackie in mind for her snowmen, but I tried them out on a brown paper bag cardstock.  They are from www.offthebeatenpathdesigns.com.  Both these places have some interesting things to play with.

I haven't opened my Halloween candy, I don't dare.  I am hoping it doesn't rain for the kids.  Happy Halloween to y'all.

Summer Salsa and a Town Peddler Visit

 This is my friend Jackie's booth.  It looks really good, all bright with the fall colors and orange lights.  What!!! Those snowmen have sneaked in to steal attention.  The lower right corner has Stella's afgans in the chair and her picture is nearby on the window frame.

I have rearranged mine until all the dolls are very confused.  It is still in process, right now pretty bland.  The pilgrims said they hope all the fuss about them being bad goes  away because they are really good Methodists.

Thank you for your comments about the Flower House.  I still have some pictures I want to post, they will be nice to have on hand for some  bleak winter day.  Thank you Ma for being so sweet about my pictures with the scratched lens, as long as we get the idea I love everyone's pictures. 

One more thing, I am posting theSALSA RECIPE for Kynda because her friends loved the sample.  I see that the search on my blog does not bring it up,  Happy Halloween time.

SUMMER SALSA

8 cups peeled tomatoes (I use the food processor to chop everything.)
1 or 2 cups of seeded chopped jalepenos (use your gloves).
2 cups chopped onion (use the cheap yellow ones, about 4 or 5)
8 cloves garlic, minced (I usually add a bit more)
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (just slice thinly)
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 cup cider vinegar (use the good stuff)
1/4 cup lime juice (one or two limes)

Put all together in a large pot.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes.  Pour hot salsa into pint jars and seal with two piece caps.  Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.  Makes 4 to 5 pints.

Over the years I have tweaked this recipe a bit and you may also.  I drain the tomatoes after chopping them to get a  thicker salsa.  (I made only 70 pints this year, down from 82 last year.) I hope you enjoy making Summer Salsa.

Flower House

There are so many pictures of the Flower House online,  For good ones go to #FlowerHouse.  These pictures are not recommended because my camera has a scratched lens, and the photographer (me) took a lot of pictures that included donuts, people eating donuts, people selling donuts and portapottys  in them.  .

We were taken in the house in designated time groups and had twenty minutes to tour.  You could have easily stayed several hours and twenty minutes and not be satisfied that you saw all the amazing flowers.  The event was sold out early.  I wish everyone who loves flowers could have been there.

 This was my favorite room where the artist used lots of vegetables with the flowers.  The room was filled and this is just one little section.

 I really liked all the branches and limbs in the arrangements, I guess "the wispy look".  I had a big bunch of limbs to throw out here at home, but maybe I won't.

A bad pic, but you can see the bed made from tree limbs. I have been really busy sewing this week and should have been able to come up with a better post. It was amazing.  I hope someone will do a Flower House in your city.

We drove by to see the "Flower House" yesterday.  By the end of the week this house will be in full bloom, so stay tuned to see what the florists create.

and then Oh My.....Sister Pie.  In West Village, Detroit, lemon pie to die for.  Happy Monday.

What flower do you see?

Just a few days now and we will have so much fun together.  This will be Kynda's first visit since her retirement.  This is one of her creations sitting on an old mirror that was my Dad's.  Cockscomb, which I can never grow, coleus leaves, sedum and those beautiful zinnias. Have a wonderful Wednesday all.

Eat and Have Fun at Patti's...

If you are ever in Grand Rivers Kentucky, you have to stop at this place.
If you happen to see these beautiful children, they are my great-grandchildren!
And take home a bottle of Patti's Special Seasoning.

Garden, end of August

 Just some garden pictures this morning, see the Dr. Seuss flower in this one.

 My mom's chair that she trash-picked.  I keep propping it up.

 The first of my little pumpkins.

This morning I am moving pretty slow, but I found out from Ma's blog it is okay to be a turtle.  Go http://onyama.blogspot.com/2015/08/chapter-8-page-28-book-15.html. 

First Time Plants

 This Sweet Annie plant came all the way to Michigan from The Farm in Petersburg, Illinois.  (Thank you, Kynda for sending it USPS).  Every year I try to plant some from seed but it never comes up, I am hoping it will seed itself so I will have Sweet Annie next year.

This is my new morning glory called Flying Saucer.  Bought this plant in Jonesville, MI from Gley's, the good apple cider people.  Cold today in Michigan and cloudy, Happy Tuesday.

From Jackie's timeline, how clever

Makes sense, shade and cat proof.  John is too old for one of these,or he would have one in my yard.
Happy  Wednesday, Blessed Hope day, green beans and kielbasa, lots of fresh tomatoes and pickled beets!

Conversation piece?

This is for sale at the Town Peddler.  There are so many clever things there that are "upcycled" and
"repurposed" etc. 

I thought I would see what my blogger friends thought about it.  I don't usually like an old thing made into a new thing, and sometimes it makes me feel sad.  Just think of all the fun around this old guy, singing and playing duets.  Well, maybe after some wine there will still be singing around him.

It is a very hot day in Michigan.  The tent sale is going on until Sunday at the Town Peddler.  Lots of good buys and I did forget to price the piano-wine-rack in case anyone is interested but you can email me.  Happy weekend all.

Good Saturday Morning

 It's my second cup!

My little neighbor girl (Raylynn, age 5) was so excited yesterday.  She told her aunt and grandmother..."SHE'S GROWING ORANGES!!!!!!!

August garden

I tried this new tomato this year, it is called Pink Brandywine. I pick them like this and n a day or so they are pink all over and delicious.  I only saw them for sale at one place, Sacka's greenhouse on Inkster Road near Sibley. 

This is my wild garden.  You can see the red okra  toward the front.  It is pretty and when cooked is just like any other okra.

This is my favorite phase of the sunflower.  Look at all the little rows so perfectly spaced.  The little yellow finches come every day for lunch.

I hope you are having a good summer!

Hello July

Happy Canada Day,to our Canadian friends.  I hope you have a beautiful day.

The raspberries are ripe now, and they are also early.  We have had so much rain that everything is unusual.

The peonies were at the end of the tour but were still beautiful.  This is my second year to see them at the Nichols Arboretum in Ann Arbor.

It is such a wonderful place to take photographs.  These children were so patient while their families took many shots of them.  I couldn't resist getting one too. 
.

Goodbye, wonderful June

The strawberries are bye-bye, but they gave us so much pleasure. We've had so much going on this monthI haven't had time to write about it. So, June stuff to come later.

My Cake 2

I sure do thank y'all for the birthday wishes and comments about the cake.

The thing I forgot to mention that it was the most luscious cake I ever had and believe me I have had
my share of birthday cakes, too many to mention.  If you read through the recipe you will see how much
effort went into the making. It would be worth it, if you want a cake that is very special.  We had a slice
the next day and it was even better.

My daughter PJ really went all out on this one.  The dinosaurs of course was her idea too.
You can read the recipe for White Velvet Layer Cake with Strawberry-Raspberry Mascarpone Butter Cream on www.wickedgoodkitchen.com. 

My Cake

This month I had one of those "milestone" birthdays....but dinosaurs??????

Last picking....

No more, sob.....

June 20, goodbye to our 2015 strawberries.

We loved you so much dear strawberries, but now you are small and tomorrow is the first day of summer after all and time for your  squash and green bean buddies to be the stars of the garden. The pie was made by PJ and she used "The Farm" recipe for the crust, it was wonderful. I love having Kynda visit when the berries come in.  I took her pickin when she was just a tot at Mr. Faith's in Paducah.  I hope you all had home grown strawberries in June 2015.