Project way over due...

I've finally finished a baby quilt that should have been done in January! I'm almost embarrassed to send it now but she can always use it for a lap quilt.

So here it is...ta da. Pinwheels on the front.


Funky on the back.


This is what I did today. My mom needs a summer table runner. This is what I came up with out of my stash. I like the bright colors and the vege./fruit print. It's not finished; I'm gonna put on a border and then quilt it. I'm so proud of it I wanted to show you today.

Last night, JP and I shared out first peach from our little trees. It was so good. This first tree to ripen is a white peach. Jam, cobbler, Yummmmm!

JP has a three day weekend coming up so hopefully, we'll have some nice recipe posts and maybe something to celebrate Independence Day. We send blessings from the holler...

First Day of Summer...

Are you kidding me? I glanced at the calendar this morning and that's what it said! Well, we sure had a warm spring. Do you remember how very cold it was, way back when we were posting about our snow accumulation, and when we started our little gardens off as seeds? Wow, time goes by so fast. Is it just me? So, now that I know what season I'm in let me embrace it with a few photos of what's been going on in the holler.

This butterfly was keeping me company while I hosed off from being in the garden this morning.

We have the occasional turkey visit.

The hay was cut next door which leaves such a lovely view.

The flowers and weeds are in full swing.

The vegetable garden is coming along nicely.

This little tomato is called "sugary sweet." What I wanted you to see in this picture is my use for pantyhose - cut into strips, make the best tomato ties. As far as I'm concerned, there is no other good use for them :O)

The peach trees are doing good, at least we think they are.


The gang says hello. Violet is hiding but is in the picture and Scrappy was not available today. She decided she'd rather stay inside and do her nails or something.


Oh, there she is. She's claimed my chair as her command post.


So, as you can see, we are abundantly blessed and thankful. May The Lord bless you and yours; this is our prayer for you from all of us in the holler.

Star Spangled Banner...

The week of June 14 is designated as "National Flag Week." During National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week. The flag should also be displayed on all Government buildings. Some organizations hold parades and events in celebration of America's national flag and everything it represents.
Wikipedia

We invite you to take a moment and read the verses below, written by Francis Scott Key. What does our flag represent to you?

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

We are proud and thankful for the men and women who serve and have served under this flag in our armed forces. Blessings from the holler.

Mom, somebody's sleeping in my bed...

And She's still there!!!

Last weekend, I was standing in our room when I noticed that Charlie was laying in front of his kennel looking in it. That is odd because he likes to go in and lay down or just stand there like the big goof he is and look out the door. But Corrie had decided to have a lay down in there this day and he looked like he just didn't know what to do. When I leave the house and it's a nice day, Corrie is in a kennel in our room (usually Charlie's) and Scrappy is in the room with her, Speedbump and Daisy are in the main part of the house and Charlie and Violet are outside. But at night, all are inside and Charlie sleeps in his kennel. He goes in there because he likes it, not because we make him. There are some nights he will pester me until I get up and shut his door for him. He just really likes his kennel! So, that was the problem on this morning. Corrie was pushing his button; you know how sisters can be.
We hope that you all have a great weekend and blessings from the holler!

Bunny Rescue...

I was all settled in my chair with my first cup of coffee and ready to read and pray a few minutes and "get my head together." Then, it all started (as do many of my adventures) with the dogs barking their heads off at the back door. So, to regain my peaceful time I got up and let them out. I thought they were barking at the same turkey that comes by everyday and takes a dust bath right by their yard; evidently they take this as a personal insult because it's their mission to make him run away. He's not even running from them anymore, it's more of a fast stroll. Anyway, back to my story, they were aiming their attention at the sidewalk/backdoor area which is nothing new either. Probably, the cat or something. Then I noticed that the flowers look so pretty after the rain we had yesterday and thought I should go and get some pictures to show you. I grabbed the camera and slid into my crocs and out I go through the garage. As I step into the garage some movement caught my eye and when I looked I saw a little bunny trying to hop up the walls of the garage to get away!! I put the situation together pretty fast, especially since I haven't had my required amount of coffee yet. Spaceqhost has caught another rabbit only this one is freaking out in our garage! The first instinct I have is to provide a way out for little Thumper so I opened the garage door. The noise that made sent Thumper back towards me and he hid behind the dog food bags. So, I thought he'll run out when I leave so I'll just go take my pictures and he'll be gone by then. As, I walk out I see that Spaceghost has set himself up under the mower in ambush so I called the rascal to come with me, which he did.

Here's where I left Thumper. He's the little dark spot behind the yellow bag.

The flowers are lovely (I was excited to see this amaryllis), the garden is doing well (the marigolds seeded themselves last year so I'm actually having to thin them), the produce is all on track, and the peaches are hanging in there.




When I came back to the garage Thumper hadn't moved and is terrified. I can tell this because I could see he was shaking as much as my heart was pounding. So, I grabbed everything I could and made a path out of the garage (flower pots, bags of cat food, etc.), then I moved the bag where he was hiding and he ran out of there with me behind him yelling Go, Go, Go!!! HE MADE IT. He hopped to the hayfield that hasn't been cut yet and he's probably still hopping.

So, that's my morning; nothing special, lazy days in the holler. Needless to say I won't need that coffee until around noon when my adrenaline settles down. As I tell this story I realize what I must have looked like and am so thankful that we don't have neighbors that can see us. At least I was dressed for the day. I'm laughing now, but, when I was in the thick of it I was pretty intense. Go ahead, laugh! I know as JP reads this he's shaking his head and picturing his crazy wife and her adventures!

I can't wait to make my own pie!....

Pizza pie that is. I wanted to put a Seinfeld video here but, sadly, there are copyrights. Anyway, we've got a great pizza dough recipe that is easy and oh so good. Also, it makes four medium sized pizzas so if you want you can freeze half of the recipe by wrapping the dough in wax or sprayed parchment paper and when you need it just thaw it, making sure to let it come to room temperature and you're ready to make your own pie! We make many variations, I've even used the dough to make a desert pizza by sprinkling cinnamon and sugar on it and then after it cools make a glaze to drizzle over it, it's yummy! I could start naming off our favorites but it would turn into the scene from Forest Gump where he's hearing about all the ways to cook shrimp so I'll just let you do your thing. We have discovered that we prefer provolone cheese to mozzarella. But, again, you make it however you like it!

Pizza Dough

1/4 C whole wheat flour
3 ½ C High gluten flour, the original recipe called for all purpose here but we found that high gluten makes a crispier crust
2 tsp. yeast
2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/3 C Warm water

Mix all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl with the dough hook attachment, gradually add the olive oil and water while on low speed. Then kneed on low speed for about 6-8 min.


Divide the dough into 4 balls and place on 2 baking sheets lined with wax or parchment paper (I spray mine with Pam) and place another sheet of sprayed paper on top, and cover that with a damp towel until they double in size, about 2 hours.


Preheat oven to 550° and put your pizza stone on the middle rack.
Roll out pizza dough and place on a pizza palette.
We've started using yellow corn meal for rolling instead of flour it adds such a nice texture.

Last night we used the recipe above to make Calzones. The only difference is, after you've rolled it out, you put your fillings on one side, fold the dough over it, crimp about 1" around with a fork, put some vent slits in the top, and bake at 425° so the vegetables and cheese have more time to cook. It took ours about eight minutes to be done at the lower temp. They were so good. JP ate a whole one, our little 6 yr old granddaughter ate over one-half, and I got stuck at half! That girl can pack in the food and isn't picky at all. She asked me last night if we were meataterians, I said without skipping a beat "absolutely honey." Kids are so funny.

We are having a wonderful and blessed weekend here in the holler and hope you all are too.