Quilting

Mom and I just got back from a quilt show in Manti. It's so fun to see all the pretty quilts that have taken hours and hours of work to complete. Below are a couple of quilts I've worked on this summer. They are nothing compared to the ones I just saw, but I like to quilt and it keeps me busy.

This is called a bear claw pattern shown in the quilt below.

This is a 50" X 50" wall hanging. I've only pieced the top together and still need to quilt it. It will have a red binding all around it when competed. I appliqued the flowers and leaves on it. Both Carl and Dad told me I needed to make it bigger so it could fit on a bed and be "useful." They each told me this at separate times unaware of the other's exact comment. Can't quilts be "useful" hanging on a wall? Apparently, the men in my family don't think so. :)

I started this baby quilt last summer, but school started and I couldn't finish it. I made it almost completely out of scraps my mom had tossed in a basket. The top is now finished, but it still needs to be quilted. Also, fuzzy, chenille strips need to be sewn onto the quilt. This will give it 3-D texture and will add interest.

Happy Fathers' Day, Dad!

Yesterday was Fathers' Day. B, K and kids came down to celebrate. Carl and Danny were able to make it as well. We ate dinner, played some rousing games of Mexican Horseshoes (AKA Ladder Ball) and had cake and ice cream for dessert. Here are 5 things that make my dad great:

1. He is like the Energizer Bunny. I don't know how he just keeps on going... up at 3:30 am then to bed at 11 pm.

2. He is Mr. Handy Dandy. He takes days off work so he can work some more on the cabin he's building. He pretty much knows how to do everything and anything that's handy. For the cabin, he's done the plumbing, septic tank, insulation, interior tongue and groove, solar energy system, water pressure tank system, etc. etc.

3. He's a horseman at heart. For some reason (I still can't figure this one out) he LOVES horses.

4. He can get pretty silly at times. Oft times, mother and I have to tell him to calm down and act his age. :)

5. He loves the mountains: camping, fishing, snowmobiling, hunting - you name it. He's shared this love affair with all three of his sons.

6. (A Bonus One) He loves his family. Everything he does shows he loves his family very much. Happy Fathers' Day, Dad!

Getting the cabin warm.

Kids at heart.

In his buggy driving Pete.

I hope I don't get giardia.

Today, Carl, Danny, Doofus #1 (LuAnn) and Doofus #2 (me) floated down the Sanpitch River. Carl and Danny shared the big tractor tire inner tube and Louie and I had our own little ones. It's mighty hard to stay on those little ones. Louie and I capsized quite a few times. Carl and Danny kept afloat the entire time. They wouldn't let the 2 doofuses try their nice, big tube. (Rude!) In the process of a backwards somersault, I lost my favorite sunglasses. The $3 ones with the leopard print on the inside! Fare-thee-well, my favorite sunglasses!

Want to go fishing? You'll definitely catch something in the Sanpitch! Schools of fish were all trying to swim upstream at our starting point. They were jumping out of the water like crazy.

Karen's Fresh Salsa

Karen gave me this really good/easy recipe for salsa. Carl LOVED it so much he told me I needed to blog about it. I happily agreed. Karen - I hope this recipe isn't a secret! ;)

1 bottle of stewed tomatoes (Dain all liquid from it - otherwise your salsa will be a bit runny.)

1/2 of a yellow onion

cilantro - as much or as little as you'd like. (I like a lot of it put in. You can start with a little and then season to taste.)

1 green pepper

2 tomatoes

garlic powder or fresh garlic - season to taste

salt/pepper - season to taste

1 1/2 t lemon juice (optional)
hot sauce/jalepenoes/chili powder (optional) - season to taste. I only add a little bit of chili powder b/c I like my salsa mild.

Put all ingredients (EXCEPT 2 tomatoes, 1/2 of the green pepper, 1/4 onion) in blender. Blend 'til smooth. finely chop remaining ingredients and stir into mix.

Voila! Yummy salsa!

Is the NBA Rigged?!?

Just wondering...

I'm Ready to Ride!

Yesterday, I bought a bike. I had mom come with me so she could encouragingly chant, "Spend the money! Spend the money!" That always seems to help. Why do I have such a hard time spending money?!

Now that I have a bike, I'm ready to ride. All you biker babes out there (you know who you are): Are you ready for some high adventure? Moab rendevous? Cruise around Utah Lake? I am!

The prophet said to plant a garden...

...so that's what we'll do.

And if you plant the seeds just right and tend them carefully.

Before you know, good things will grow to feed our family.

Any guesses what this plant is? I have a Tootsie Pop for the winner.

(You'll have to come get it from me yourself.)

Our garden got a late, late, LATE start this year due to cold weather in May, ending school, and Carl's wedding. Today, mother and I planted 3 different kinds of tomatoes, swiss chard, cabbages, radishes, spaghetti squash, and yellow/green squash. (That's about all that will grow in the soil we have.)

On a side note: I'm addicted. I can't stop thinking about what I will blog about next. Why didn't I blog sooner?! It's too fun!

More Wedding Pics

Carl's and Danielle's Wedding Day

Here are some pics of their big day.

There is hope!

This past weekend at my brother's wedding, I (for the first time in my life) caught the bride's bouquet. Before this monumental event, my brother (the groom) gave me some very helpful advice. He said, "Stay low. Box out. Use your hips."

Competition was fierce. Three young 6 year olds stood to challenge me along with a 31 year old. As the bouquet was thrown into the air, I kept my eye on the flowers, trampled over the 6 year olds, pushed away the 31 year old, and leaped heaven-bound to claim the one thing that would ensure my eternal destiny.

The victory was triumphant. Tears were shed - (by the 6 year olds). The 31 year old later told me she had willingly forfeited.

To Blog or Not To Blog? ...That is the Question!

For about 2 years now, I have debated whether or not I should blog. Today I decided, that if Aunt Louie would show me the ins and outs of blogging, I will do it. Why not? I'll be sure to keep it private - no pesky internet snoopers. If you are one of these, please let me know so I can uninvite you.