New Baby Quilt...

Since it says in my profile that I love to quilt I thought I should post a picture of something I've done. I've just finished this quilt for my daughter-in-love's sister. She has a new baby girl and her colors are pink and brown. This is my first try at the a new type of quilt - it's supposed to look like you just threw it together because none of the squares match. Let me tell you it took some time for me to wrap my head around that whole idea. This is a good thing, I like to learn new things! I was showing my DIL and grand baby the material for this quilt and my little one said "oh, this is for me right?? I love "Hello Kitty!!!" So I promised her that she'd have the very next quilt I make and it will have "Hello Kitty" fabric. I already have the fabric for it. That's a lot of pressure for a mamaw to be under - those big, huge blue eyes laid the guilt trip right at my door and I had to think of something fast! I mean really who else would I sew ANYTHING for but her right? Poor little darling. So,,,on to my next project. Which is processing some green beans I picked today! It was nice to do this quilt for a change of pace.
Blessings to you all.

Beautiful Words...

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
His purposes will ripen fast
Unfolding every hour
The bud may have a bitter taste
But sweet will be the flower.
Cowper

I'm reading through "The Mitford Series" by Jan Karon AGAIN! This will be my 3rd time through. It makes me laugh (JP can vouch for that) but occasionally the main character will spout of a verse of poetry or words of a hymn that I love. Anyway, that's where I got the verse above.
Blessings from the holler. Have a great weekend.

Is it Hot?....

Well it's all hot stuff here in the holler today. The pickin's from our garden were just laying there on the dining room table taunting me. I could barely hear it as I'd walk by "we're still here, don't waste us, you went to all the trouble to grow us, blah, blah, blah." So I just started working and we came out with four jars of salsa, one jar of pickled jalepeño and sweet peppers (highly experimental), and two bags of frozen basil in olive oil (recipe from my cousin - also experimental for us). But the voices have stopped at least. Were they in my head? I tell you, I knew that gardening was lots of work but I had NO idea. On the flip side of that is I didn't know how good it felt to look in the cubbard and see all the fruits/veges of our labors.

I washed the basil leaves and let them air dry then put a layer of leaves into a freezer bag with 1/4 - 1/3 cup olive oil, pressed out all the air and in the freezer it goes. The salsa is hotter this time because I left in the jalepeño seeds. I'll have to make another mild batch for our grandbaby who started first grade this year! Yikes! The pickled jalepeños were packed in a sterilized jar and then I poured a hot mixture of 1 cup vinegar, 1Tbs salt, 1Tbs sugar, tsp mustard powder, 1tsp celery seed and 1/4 cup olive oil. We'll see how those come out. Really, I just wanted to use up some peppers some how. I hope JP likes them.
Since I've been slaving in the kitchen all the live long day we'll have easy pork chops for supper. It's super easy and good. Just season pork chops, pour over one small bottle of italian dressing and let marinate (I got this started before preserving fever set in.) Then bake at 375° until brown - turning occasionally.
I haven't decided on the side dish but the salad will be little cherry tomatoes. I'm glad it's done - now tomorrow i'll pick beans! It never ends...what a blessing.

Family Blessings...

Today I started thinking about where I learned to do the every day things I do. My Mom! She taught me to cook, clean, sew, and so many other things that are just part of me. When we moved from Florida to Tennessee to farm, my parents had over 200 acres to fence so that's when I got to help out in the kitchen and with cleaning too. My mother would slave over dresses for me and taught me to read a pattern and go for it!! My grandmother taught me to crochet, to love sliced tomato on pizza, and to take care of my complexion. Ponds cold cream was her weapon. My Aunt Shirley taught me the love of quilting - she still inspires me. I'm so blessed to have these women in my life.

Last weekend, my parents and I went to Florida to celebrate one of my Aunt and Uncle's 60th anniversary. The drive wasn't so bad because we chatted all the way - although we all could've done without the traffic jam from Atlanta, GA through to Chattanooga, TN!! What's up with that? We're supposed to be the only ones on the road!! Anyway, we were only there for two days but we packed as much family fun as we could into it. I realize now how blessed I am to have grown up in such a family. We are all close and all love each other - warts and all, as they say! We are not perfect, we know that, but we are close and when we're together there are no awkward moments when we have to warm up to one another. The credit for that goes to my grandparents and how they raised their four daughters. I take that back, silly me, the credit goes to God. He has blessed us beyond measure with faith in Him through His grace and to Him goes the glory.
So, for their 60th anniversary gift, their children and grandchildren all wrote them a "tribute" and sent pictures of their favorite times. This was compiled at my cousins house a.k.a. party command central. There was even, hold on to your hats,,,dancing!! How sweet to see my Aunt and Uncle dance to "their song." And I even got out there with my cousin Debbie and learned to Foxtrot. Since I was out there already I might as well learn the "macarena" (sp?) and demonstrate my "electric slide" prowess! Okay, now that you all are having a good laugh, I'm happy. We laughed all weekend long (with and at each other.) I just wanted to share my weekend blessings with you.
Oh, if you are wondering about the pictures in this post they are - the top one is me at my Grandma's house (she babysat me), middle is most of the family at my Grandma's 80th birthday, and last is me, my brother and mom (cousins in background) hunting Easter eggs at Grandma and Grandaddy's house.

Well, it's back to garden work. My salsa must've turned out good - it's all gone. Never fear, there's more where that came from.

Have you been worried?...

It's been quite a few days since our last post. Have you been worried? I've been keeping up with all of you but haven't had the time to post anything!! Well, for a few days I was swallowed up by our garden. I barely made it out alive, gulp! Then, we had some company come on Saturday so that meant I had to clean this house which I've sorely neglected since garden days started. I know, excuses, excuses... Seriously, I don't know how you gardenistas have a life and tend to your garden too! JP made some outstanding marinara sauce and I made some salsa from our garden. We'll be making more because the maters are piling up. It really is great to have so much food put away for winter. I know I'll be enjoying it then.

I feel like the tomatoes plants are just laughing at me because it is never ending!!! We have two walls (front and back) of tomatoes. The pepper plants took July off but are in full swing now! JP is gonna have to make some of his "mean green" sauce to use up some of the jalepeños and habañeros. I'm sure he'll do that this week since he's taking a few days vacation. He'll be doing a post on our project we'll be doing tomorrow. The smoker will be working on some pork butts, yum, yum, yum!! Lots of love go into that deal.
So,,,how does your garden grow? Blessings from the holler to you all.