Monday, July 5, 2010

Fireworks and Apricots



Today we had a great and productive family day!
We had the fun of firing off fireworks together.















Then we finally started to harvest the apricots.



As you can see they are small,
but there are a lot of them!



After washing them, we started to cut them up.


But given how many apricots we have,
I knew that was going to take forever,
so I decided to use my chopper to
speed things up a bit.



The older boys helped with the pitting process.




8cups apricots (pitted and de-stringed)
1/4cup lemon juice
5cups sugar


Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 30 minutes,
stirring FREQUENTLY.



Apricot jam bubbling; water-bath coming to a boil.

Almost ready!


Time to fill the jam jars:



Now for 10 minutes in the water bath.



That's beautiful!  :)

One of my readers asked what I was going to do
with my apricots.  Well, this is the first step.
We're going to try drying some as well,
as well as get another batch of jam going.

Plus, we're just going to eat some
of them FRESH, of course!!!



Friday, July 2, 2010

Garden Progress

Well, everything has been grow, grow, growing!

The onions have been harvested!






The cherry tomato plant has gone wild
and has had to be hog-tied.









The squash plants are finally getting their growth
and starting to put forth some fruit.












This particular squash must have grown
from a dropped seed.
It is growing between
2 layers of fence!

A determined plant, I'd say!!!



Now that the peas have finished their glory,
the green beans are pouring forth multitudes of pods.




 The okra are starting to grow and have
sturdy stalks to stand firmly on.






Note to self:  transplanting okra is NOT good.





Not only that, but the asparagus bed is coming along nicely!




The apricots will be coming off the tree,
probably next week.









Yum!  Apricot Jam, here we come!

Early on in Doily-Making



Here is a doily from among the first I made:




You can tell it is one of my early doilies
because it will not iron out flat on the edges.
It has a uneven, fluted look.

But everyone has to develop their skills.

No one starts out perfectly.

I think it is good to show the learning process,
as well as beautiful outcomes.

It always encourages me when someone else
will let me see their mistakes.  Then I know
they're not perfect either and it helps me
to relax about myself.  :)

So be a real friend by being REAL!!!


Thursday, July 1, 2010

My First Crochet Project

My mother has crocheted for as long as I can remember.  She works with yarn and thread equally well.  She is a retired school teacher and actually taught middle school science to me.  But my favorite thing that she taught me is, of course, crocheting!

I tried crocheting a few times as a child but didn't have enough perseverance.  Then, when I'd been married a year or two, I decided to try again.  And, of course, I can't do anything small.  I always seem to leap in with both feet.  So not only did I decide to make a full-size afghan for my first project, I also decided that I was going to plan my own color scheme and pattern (even though I'd never done that before either).  My mother saved me by giving me a very easy stitch pattern to learn.

Well, this time, I did have enough perseverance.  See:



Since then, I have made only 1 other afghan.  Not too long after I began to crochet, I decided to try out crochet thread instead of yarn.  And I fell in love with it.  It started with clothespin angel Christmas tree ornaments.  Then on to other crafty items.  Then, to doilies (which are among my favorite things to make).  And, needing inexpensive baby shower gifts, I was spurred on to making layette items (booties, bonnets, sweaters, etc.).  I do creep back over to yarn occasionally, and usually briefly, before I leap back to my beloved threads.  I don't know why my preference is so set.  But it is. 

As my beloved husband knows, 
I just like things the way I like them!  :)

I think, with so much to do in other areas of life, the projects I make with thread are fairly quick going and I get more immediate results.  I'm a list maker and I love crossing things off the list.  Booties and doilies are done in a few evenings.

 Afghans?  Not so much.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Floral Beauties - Daffodils









I like to think of my dainty flowers as girls.
Friends to keep me company and to talk to.

Flowers bless me mightily!


Saturday, June 26, 2010

Floral Beauties - Tulips!








God makes wonderous variety, even among the same
type of flower.  He amazes me with His creativity.

My creativity comes from Him, but is,
definitely, but a poor reflection.


Red Mary Jane's