boogaj

Quilt Along

So, I stared another quilt and joined the Great Granny Along.  I've only finished one block, but I'm really having a lot of fun with it.  I love the scrappy feel and I'm trying to using a ton of different fabrics to mix things up.  I love the look of the quilt so much, that I actually dug into my stash of Flea Market Fancy fabrics.  Photos soon!

Out with the Barberry

Before...

Okay, this isn't really the "before" photo because only a few weeks ago there were unruly barberry bushes and weeds in this lovely, mulched bed.  I ripped them out because I hate them.  Barberry is ubiquitous around here, and I guess their reddish foliage is kind of pretty, but they are a thorny nightmare in my opinion.  I always had to have Pete pull a bunch of splinters out of my hands after I trimmed them -- even when I wore gloves. 

After...

And now we have some lovely roses, some new daylilies and some old daylilies that needed a new home. We have a local nursery that specializes in daylilies and has probably about 30 or so varieties, so we picked up some with unusual coloring.

In other news, our mama robin has had her babies.  She's up there feeding them in this photo.  We (or maybe just I) have been so worried about her with the wild storm we had about a week ago and the crazy heat wave last week.  I heard the babies starting to squawk a little bit today though, so all appears to be well!

Cathrineholm Orange Lotus Lidded Pot

So, Pete found out that our local auctioneer was having a multi-estate auction in an air-conditioned space today and we decided to check it out.  While there were a few items and lots that I wanted to bid on, there was one in particular that I knew I had to have.  It was an unassuming box full of pretty nasty, beat up pots and pans, but hidden in one corner was this beautiful Cathrineholm pot.  

Now if you know me, you know that I absolutely love the color orange!  I also love Danish Modern -- so I really wanted this.  If anyone else at the auction knew anything about Cathrineholm, I figured I wouldn't get it since I've seen these same pots listed on etsy for over $100.  Luck must have been on my side because I got the box for $12.50!  (I'll be selling the other things in the lot at our yard sale, so I might almost break even.)

I was worried because the previous owner had written her initials on the pan and lid with a black marker, but a light cleaning with BonAmi (love the stuff!) took it right off.

Yeah!

Time flies...

I've been so busy with Summer that I completely forgot to post for about a month.  So what have I been doing?  Watering the garden -- a lot.  We're in the middle of a drought here, and while we never water the lawn, I do try to keep the veggies from wilting. (Heh!  I call it a lawn but it is primarily what some might call weeds.  But heck, the weeds are greener than everyone elses grass!)

I also went berry picking again -- raspberries this time -- and made some raspberry jam and raspberry sauce which was excellent on ice cream!

We also went to my mother-in-law's for the annual family picnic and had a great time playing bocce ball and ladder ball.

I had an awesome garage sale find -- an Epiphone Les Paul guitar!!  So now I'm learning to play, which is fun and a little intimidating (especially since Maddie, who is only 11 is already a very good guitar player).

And of course there was the 4th of July which we celebrated yesterday with some good food, fireworks and a visit to my Mom's place on the river for an afternoon boat ride.

I've also been reading, but I need to do an entire post to get all that logged.  And I'm looking for a new knitting project -- something fun and easy with a enough going to to keep my interest.  Any thoughts fellow knitters?  I'm thinking of doing the Stephen West mystery shawl kal, but don't have suitable yarn in the stash.  Perhaps it's time to enhance the stash.