Five on Friday....

I;m joining Amy this week for her Five on Friday blog hop.

School starts next week and Kaela will be a SENIOR in high school!  
It seems just last week, she looked like this:

Then "POOF" I looked up and she looked like this!  My baby is all grown up.

In the summer, I tend not to crochet and knit as much.   I turn to working in the yard, reading and catching up on doctor appointments.
Not THIS summer....THIS summer has been taken up by THIS little girl!

That being said, I did make a cute little Yoda hat and rattle set for a friend who has a grand baby in her future.  Her daughter is a Star Wars fan.

I finished this month's CAL squares a couple days early.  Red, white and blue seemed appropriate this month.

 I already posted a photo of this box Kaela did but it was blurry.  The colors are so deep and rich but soft at the same time.  I love the swirls....

I also got a fun  birthday surprise in the mail!  Kerry sent this guy to me.  His wife was sent to me in the spring...

Here they are, reunited!

check the cute notepad she made...even the pen and letters are handmade!

I'm trying to convince her to open an etsy shop.  Her stuff is unique and well made...Thank you Kerry!

It is the tail end of the week so I thought this shot was appropriate!

Have a great Friday!  Don't forget to click here to continue the blog hop!

Back to school

Kids think they are the only ones who go back to school.  These pictures prove otherwise:


Oh boy!  A bus ride!  Yeah!!!!  

Off to the park we go!

 back on the bus for our next stop....

the police department so we can all get booked!   (just kidding....)

Back in the bus, ummmm. Now we hit the library.

OK....is it me or is it getting REALLY hot in here?

off to eat LUNCH

Are we there yet?  

I'm hungry

I'm thirsty

I have to pee

insert appropriate picture that I forgot to take HERE.  

The food was good, the a/c was better!

Hold up...we are heading back!  yay!

Back to school, not my room.  My co worker did this over the summer for her new room.   She has two windows that span the length of the room. 

Totally rocks!

By the end of the day, we were all seriously sweaty...but we had a great time!  Thanks to da boss and his minions for setting up a great little outing!

Recipe Box: Lentil Soup

It has been awhile since I've posted a recipe of my mom's!

Last week when Tammy was here, I made some lentil soup.   It was unbelievably good so I thought I'd share the recipe.  I took my mom's recipe and tweaked it for my family.  

This photo shows it over rice.  

Mumu's and mine...Lentil Soup

1 cup green or brown lentils.  (Red ones don't take as long to cook and will explode!  If you use them, adjust the cooking time and add them at the end.)
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 large carrots, chopped (set aside)
1 large onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped
1-2 small potatoes, diced (set aside)
4 ounces red wine
2 large or 4 small bay leaves
1 large can diced tomatoes in juice
1 pound turkey sausage
8+ cups stock, broth or water.
1/4-1/2 tsp cayenne (optional)
4 chicken bouillon cubes

Slice one pound of smoked turkey sausage and sear on both sides.  Put in a bowl and Set aside.
(Deglaze the pan with a little water and use in the stock)
Saute the seasonings, bay leaves, onion, garlic and celery for a couple minutes.  
Add the lentils, sausage, red wine and the bouillon cubes.  Cover with stock, put on the lid.
Bring to a boil and then immediately turn down the heat and simmer on medium low for about 30 minutes.
Add the carrots and potatoes.  Return to heat for another 30 minutes or until they are soft.

*You can adjust the seasonings before serving.  I usually add more salt. TASTE it first as bouillon cubes are salty.

Lentils tend to continue absorbing liquid when put in the fridge so we put our leftovers over rice.

potential dog whacker poop bag holder thingie

I'm a genius.

I mean it.  Here is my proof:

So....wanna know what it is?

Of COURSE you do!
  It is a "loose dog keep away-er or whacker if they get too close/poop bag holder thingie!"

YES!

You understand, right?

 Ok...so let me break this down for you.  We have loose dogs in our neighborhood sometimes.

8 months ago, a friend of ours and her two Shelties got attacked by 2 pit bulls.  Serious injury here folks.
She almost lost one of the dogs....cost over 12k to get him well.  Her arm was messed up.  A retired marine heard her screaming, jumped up, grabbed his gun, jumped his fence and shot the dogs.  One died right then, the other was shot IN THE HEAD but kept coming.  He did die but was still fighting until he did.
The people who owned the dogs?  Slap on the wrist and they went out and bought 3 more pits.  Sad, I love the breed but some people shouldn't own ANY dog, much less a pit bull.

Our friend?  She sold her house and moved.

Okay, so I know a tennis racket won't really protect me much.  But I feel that it is better than a golf club because it has a bigger surface...and is lighter if I actually had to swing it.  And yes, if I had too, I would.  I absolutely would whack the bleep out of a dog if I was cornered and had too.

The poop bag holding thingie is just a bonus.  I just fold them and cram them into the large holes on the end.  Yay!  (just a disclaimer here, I thought of it first....)

All you tennis nuts and racquetball players, chill.  No rackets were harmed (at least not YET)  in the walking of this cutie pie:

Sorry about my piggies photo bombing the pooch.  If I cropped them out, I'd cut her little head off.  Can't have that so y'all just have to deal with it.

Oh!  I almost forgot.  You know what gave me the racket idea?

Have you seen this movie?  LOVE IT!   Yep.  this scene pretty much sums it up.  Sorry about the f word y'all but there it is....

Five on Friday

Friday is here and I'm joining Amy again for her "5 on Friday" blog hop!  

Here are a few highlights of the week!

We dropped our sweet girl off for a week at RYLA. (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.)  I know she is having a fantastic time because she actually touched base.  TWICE!  

I had to share this card she gave me for my birthday.  I'm sorry, but this totally sums me and my sisters up.  Seriously, they need to make a card with THREE critters on it.  True dat.

I just harvested my basil 2 weeks ago and had to do it again.  This stuff is super happy right now!  I made 24 more basil puree cubes for the freezer.  Takes at least 2 hours to do it but soooo worth it!  (I have directions on my recipe link if you want to see....)

 I've been dragging hoses all summer!  The rains stopped hitting us hard in June and with the heat in the high 90's and low 100's, our yard would be toast if I didn't water.  That being said, our yard and landscaping is looking so pretty.  

We may make one more bed in the front to get rid of some more grass...it is soooooo thirsty!  Landscaping is hard work but takes up less water once done.

My first zinnia of the summer!

Last but not least this:

I mean, seriously.  NOW I UNDERSTAND!  

Click on Amy's name  to blog hop with us!

little visits....

Tammy from T's Daily Inspirations came for a visit while here in the states.  

We met online years ago and then in person when she stopped through on her way to visit a former co worker.  It was a great visit and we have become good friends.  Funny old world, she grew up here and went to the same school as my kids!  
Now she lives a world away and comes back to visit family.

When she is here we do simple things like take walks early in the morning...as hot as it is to me, it is nothing compared to the heat she is used to!  
I love this photos she took of us walking Osa.  We look like giants and Osa looks like a lion!

Osa posing pretty for her new friend...

and WITH her new friend too!

We go to Starbucks a couple times each visit.  It is great to just sit, relax and crochet while we catch up on each other's lives.
This time we made baby hats for a cause she found on Instagram.  Mine is mailed off but she is making a few more on the road.

We typically have dinner a few evenings...or a little snack to go with the wine.  This year, I made lentil soup one night and just put some fun snacks out the next.

We have so much in common, it is a shame she doesn't live closer.  I thoroughly enjoy the times we get together.  

Birthdays...

Another year has flown by.  My mom was so right.  The older you get, the faster the years seem to fly by.

My family was full of surprises this year!    I woke up to this hanging in the hall:

Then Dean took me to Starbucks and to run and errand.  Osa got her first puppaccino.  Oh yeah, girl was happy.  We only let her enjoy half though...it is whipped cream.

Then they took me to lunch.  

They took me to see the Minion movie because of the corgis in it.  So cute, too bad they were only in two scenes.
After wards, it was back home to my cake and a few special gifts.  

Matt gave me a gift card to Starbucks (I'm addicted)  And Kaela painted me another gorgeous box...

After we devoured the cake, Dean and Matt forced me to beat the pinata.  

I felt awful beating up Bob....but it was filled with chocolate.  

A girls gotta do what a girls gotta do!

Oh, and Dean's gift?  You wanna see?

Yep.  And yes, they were good!

Drum roll....

Marilyn, you have won the Mad Hatter party pincushion!  I used the random number generator but couldn't get it to copy and paste correctly.  You'll just have to trust me!



Now I must wait for the NEXT party hosted by Vanessa.....ready for Halloween?

Five on Friday

Last week I didn't have time to join Amy's blog hop because of a crazy week.  I did a lot of working in the yard.  I was having computer issues and just decided to ditch the computer instead of get angry about it.

I was digging around in my craft room and realized I have a ton of fabric stashed!   Much of it is in 1-2 yard increments because I used to host a bunch of apron swaps.  Part of me wants to make a bunch to sell on etsy and part of me wants to make a buch to wear and use as gifts.

Anyway, I made some aprons and thought I'd share them with you this week! 

The first one was from a challenge I hosted in June. (Channeling June Cleaver) 

It has the CUTEST kitchen fabric that I adore. I love how it turned out but sadly, it doesn't fit me.   I used a pattern from the book "A is for Apron."  
Instead of tearing this one apart and cutting it down, I sent it to a friend.  I've made notes on the pattern for future use though.  The pattern is cut on the bias and super easy to make.

The second one is a little half apron I made copying an apron I currently use and love.  It is Day of the Dead and polka dot fabric.

These two aprons are my favorite "work horse" apron.  I made these for one of my best friends from school and her mom.  They both do serious canning in the summer and I thought they'd like to wear something fun.  I love the cherry fabric in the first one, very retro.  I used the DOTD and polka dot fabric on the second one.  I adore sugar skulls and thought my friend would like it.  She was always such a BAD influence on me!  hahahaha!

These two are made from the same fabrics, just put together differently to use up all I had left.  I love the show "Mad Men" and one day I want to host a themed party. (Behind the times, I know....but better busy than bored, right?)

 I'm not sure WHICH apron I want to keep for that....both are so cute.  I tend to lean toward bistro styles so I'll probably keep the one on the left for myself. Plus, I used a reversible ribbon for the waistband that I just LOVE.

 The one on the right is equally precious, it has rickrack on the bottom edge that ends in the back with medium black buttons.  I added a little canted pocket for fun.

There you have it!  My 6 for Friday!  Lol!  Please blog hop to the other participants by clicking HERE

Happy Friday everyone!   

cat tube.....

Suki hated this carpeted tube.  Then I stuffed a crinkle bag into it.

What is it about crinkly sounds that cats love so much?!

What you can't see in the photo is that Osa discovered her.  I didn't know she was in here until I saw Osa poking her head into the tube!

Lady Godiva Cowl

I liked the cowl I made my sister so much that I bought some more yarn and made one for me.  

I also finished my Lover's Knot shawl AGES ago and failed to post it.  I love this shawl, especially in black!  It goes with so much and is prefect for those times I don't want to take a blanket to stay warm!

I'm also happy to say that this particular shawl is teen approved.  All the other patterns I looked at were met with "granny" comments from my kids!