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!