Rednesday Reveal

I mentioned here that I finally finished a quilt project using the above red fabrics. I can finally let you know where it's new home is! Sweet Cottage Dreams Becky had seen the quilt while I was still working on it and thought it would be just perfect for her newly re-decorated guest room. I knew she was right and it would look so much better at her house than at mine, so off it went when I finished it.

Go take a look! I'm really pleased as punch that she would hang something I made in her beautiful home!!! Thanks, Becky, you're a real confidence booster!!!

In the Smokin' Hot Garden With Miss Jean

We had our bar-b-que today for our son who is visiting from Denver. My mom was here, Sweety (naturally), our daughter as well as my sister and her husband, Glen . Also attending were our adopted family, Becky, Mr. Sweet Cottage Dreams and Son of Sweet Cottage Dreams. (Thanks Becky for all the food and for all the help. You're a doll!)

Let me tell you something about Glen. If you want to have a cracker jack successful bar-b-que invite Glen!!! I kid you not, he has to keep busy - all the time. He is our resident grill master. Janice told me once that if he doesn't have something to do he'll stay for a little and then go home. He doesn't like to sit around. When he's here for a bar-b-que he mans the grill and I'm his sous chef. He tells me what he needs and I get it. His food is always awesome. Sounds like a plan to me!!!

We had such a great time eating, visiting and sharing stories. Of course I had to pick the hottest day of the year to have this thing. At first it was only going to be in the 90's but as the date got closer it changed. It was over 100 degrees. So after eating in the shade on the patio, us girls quickly retired to the air conditioned house. I didn't take pictures as I was to busy being a sous chef, eating and being hot. So the only picture I took was my little decoration on the vintage patio set I have outside

Our son is in the military and will be deployed the end of the year. This is such a special time to be with him. He's going home next weekend and will be in Denver for only another month. Then it's off to different locals for training and then he'll be deployed. He'll return to Denver next year and you can bet I'll be at the airport waiting for him, flags waving. So heat or no heat, I'll take all the mom time I can get

Have a lovely week and stay cool.

Kindred Spirits

I did a search on kindred spirit recently and came up with this:

"A kindred spirit is someone you seem to know, even though you only just met - not like a soul mate, but in the same sense. Its the kind of person you seem to just know would be a good friend. They are the people you can laugh easily with, share secrets with and find out that they have the same secret. When you say something that might be taken the wrong way, they are the ones who get it the first time, and understand. The only important thing is that they rarely disappoint you.... and you can build lasting friendships with them and feel safe doing so. "

Another was this: "A kindred spirit is someone who feels and thinks the way you do." However, I feel that this is to simplistic of a description. A better one might be this, "Kindred Spirits are two people that make a special connection by sharing a bond that has joined them by the means of an experience that has drawn them together on a higher level of consciousness. This connection can be from the same experience at the same time or two separate experiences similar in nature. "

Whatever definition you might choose, I've found mine. Do you have a friend in your life that is a kindred spirit? I pray that you do.

Have a lovely weekend!

Friendship

You don't have to be the same to get along, now do we girls?

Clematis and fuchsias

Lobelia (white and blue) with pink begonias.

*Edit: I should have mentioned that this picture isn't from my yard. It's from Sweet Cottage Dreams Becky's yard. Not to say that I didn't go down and buy the exact same flowers so I could replicate it in my yard!

Gardeners (and bloggers) know that variety is indeed the spice of life!

It's going to be a busy week in Miss Jean's garden. Our son is coming home from Denver for a week on Saturday. We'll be celebrating with a bar-b-que with family and friends on Sunday so I have lots to do to get ready. He's going to be deployed in the fall so I'm looking forward to spending some quality time together.

Have a wonderful week!!

Visiting Old Friends

I watch my two grandsons in the summer. The challenge is always to find activities to keep them busy that are close and are not expensive. This past week we went to the local Cheese Factory. They have a wonderful shop and lovely grounds with picnic tables, farm animals and a large pond. It's right on the highway, but it's very peaceful. I took them last year and it was one of their favorite days out. It's close by our house, maybe only ten minutes away, but it's a world away in their mind. I let them play all they want while I sit and read.

They get to reaquaint themselves with their summer friends.

Isn't it great when your friends are so glad to see you?

The boys get to eat homemade cheesecake.

So interested in what the animals are doing.

Goats......

and llamas......

and bunnies, oh, my!

What's more magical....

...then little boys making wishes on four leaf clovers?

It was a good day!

A Finish

I had mentioned here about all the quilts I had to bind. I have actually - brace yourself - finished one of them!! Woo Hoo!!!! It's been done for about a week but I haven't had the time to post about it. As much as I dislike sewing on the binding, I found hand stitching it down while watching television to be very relaxing.

I put a sleeve on the back so it can be hung on the wall. It's all ready to go to it's new owner. When she's ready to unveil her newly re-decorated guest room I'll let you know where to go see it. I originally purchased this as a kit from Quilter's Paradise in Clovis, California and it is one of their own designs. It has a beautiful appliqued border but it wasn't going to work for where it was to be hung, so I left it off. The kit is still available if you are interested.

In the meantime, one down, four to go.......

Julia's In The Garden

I know a lot of you know that Julia Child was a premier chef who wrote cook books and had a television show. Did you know that she had a rose named after her?

The Julia Child rose is a beautiful, strong yellow rose that is very hardy and disease resistant. I have mine in a pot (gophers!) right next to another rose. Julia is always shiny green, glossy and free of disease and insects. My other rose (whose name escapes me) is a mess of shriveled powdery mildew leaves and branches. Same area, same care. Obviously all roses are not created equal. So what am I going to do? Rip out the sickly rose and get another Julia!

After all, we can never have too much Julia Child in our lives.

Day Trip

We recently had some hot weather. Ugh!! I hate the heat and wish I could live on the coast here in California or in Oregon or Washington. In fact, if I could live on Bainbridge Island I would be in heaven. Of course I'd have to take my entire family and friends with us, but hey, that's what dreams are made of.

We thought we'd get away from it so off Sweety and I went with mom, the grandson's and even Maggie in tow over to the coast to Half Moon Bay. It was freezing! That's my luck, but that's alright. I like cool coastal weather more than inland heat any day. The boys had a good time. Check out the dimple on Mr. R on the left there. These two boys are the BEST!!

Half Moon Bay is so pretty and picturesque. The seagulls are always more than happy to pose.


Maggie had a wonderful time. There are lots of interesting noises and smells to keep her busy.

No, this isn't from the coast. I thought I'd sneak this picture in and introduce you to one of the newest members of our family. This is Rocky who owns my Uncle Carl. Notice I didn't say "is owned by". As dog owners, we all know who owns who. He's a sweet little guy who never stops moving. Yes, he's full grown and just about as big as a minute. He still has a few personal hygiene problems (needs to know the difference between going outside and inside) but he's making progress. One of these days I'm going to get brave and introduce him to Maggie.

Today the weather has cooled down for some reason, but I'm not complaining. I'm keeping busy in the sewing room.

Have a wonderful day!

Peer Pressure and More

As I mentioned in the previous post, we spent Memorial Day dinner with our dear friends who also have Scotties. They are always gracious in that they let us bring our Maggie to see her sister, Fiona, and her half brother, Duhgall. Now I know that you parents of teenagers out there will understand my concern. I knew that once she became a teenager there would be peer pressure and all sorts of problems that replaced the chewing toddler stage. Ever since we came home she has been pleading with me to let me paint her toe nails. Nope. Ain't gonna happen. Sorry, Maggie. When you are all grown up you can make those decisions on your own. As long as you are under my roof.........................

"Alas, poor Yorick, I knew him well" This is one of my favorite garden bunnies. He...give me a minute....had a terrible accident this week. Sob!!! Gardener + leaf blower = crash. He ended up in the trash sans ears. Gone but not forgotten!!!

I went to a local street fair in Pleasanton, California last month. The entire downtown was filled with antique vendors. Although I had hurt my back and could hardly move, I managed to drag my crippled little self along. I wasn't gonna miss out so I popped a few pills, put on the game face and off I went. I apologize to all our you who were there who thought I was rude for not getting out of the way. Fact is, I couldn't move fast enough to be polite. There were lots of great items and lots of people with there dogs. This little cutey won the prize. Is she adorable or what? Course that's because there wasn't a scotty in sight!

It's Saturday night so I think I'll go watch a good movie and rest up for next week. Stay safe out there friends.

Strawberry Shortcake

We usually spend Memorial Day with friends and I always volunteer to bring dessert. I love to bake and Sweety loves his Strawberry Shortcake. I thought I'd show you how I make mine.

We live in the country and are fortunate to have a strawberry stand less than five minutes from our house.

I bought half a flat and washed and trimmed the stems off. I cut them in half and sprinkle them with sugar. Lots of sugar. No need to skimp here. Lots of sugar means lots of juice!

Then I make the shortcakes. I know there are lots of fancy recipes for shortcake out there. But this is what our family (we're from the midwest) has used forever and it makes the best shortcakes. So toss out your need to be new and inventive, get yourself some Bisquick and just follow the recipe.

This is what they will turn out to be. This is a double batch. Sweety likes his shortcakes assembled while they are still warm from the oven.

Now, I'm an all or nothing kind of gal. So do not even think of buying the whipped cream that is frozen, comes in a plastic tub and starts with C*** W***. That is a great product and has many uses but not in shortcake! Get some heavy whipping cream and whip it up with a little vanilla and a little more sugar.

This is the finished product. Sweety's mom made shortcake using those little spongey cakes from the grocery store, strawberries that hadn't been sweetened and (gasp!) C*** W*** ! This dessert could have been the deciding factor that made him propose. What do you think?

Oh, one more ingredient is needed and it's the most important. Assemble a room full of family and friends that you love and enjoy!