Happy Moment #45: Painting the Sky

A Friday ritual with Soulemama.  A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary, happy moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments too.

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

~Omar Khayyam

Green Tomato Relish

I have mostly said goodnight to my veggie garden for another year.  In doing so, I harvested (all farmer Joe-like) what was left of the tomato crop and came out with a ton of green tomatoes.  In years past I have put the greenies in a paper bag and waited patiently for them to turn red or shared them with neighbors. 

This year I wanted to try something different since I had so many tomatoes! 

Enter Green Tomato Relish.

I sort of used this recipe from allrecipes.com and another one that I can't quite put my finger on at the moment.  Here is what I put in my relish:

All my green tomatoes, chopped (pictured above)
3 white onions, chopped (other recipe called for four, but I couldn't chop any more... crying too much, ha!  I can't imagine having to do 12)3 green peppers, seeded and chopped
2 red peppers, seeded and chopped
1 cup cider vinegar
4 cups sugar
3 Tablespoons mustard seeds
3 Tablespoons celery seeds

Chop the tomatoes, onions (so many tears -- and Sammy laughing at me and trying to steal onion bits while I did it), and peppers.  Bring the vinegar, sugar and seed mixture to a boil.  Add the rest of the chopped veggies and simmer/boil for 10-15 minutes.  Then can; required a 15 minute water bath.

I am quite well known by my husband for 'blowing up' the kitchen while I cook or make something.  I find a way to use nearly every pot, bowl, utensil, knife... well you get the picture.  I'm messy, but have a lot of fun! 

And here is a little peak mid-way.

And the result... it's pretty.  And oh my goodness it tastes amazing!!  So far, I have had it in a wrap, on a turkey sandwich, and on a hamburger.  You can definitely substitute this relish for sweet pickles on whatever you eat.

And the bonus is that I grew those tomatoes!!  Neat, right?  Sort of a things coming full circle thing. 

Next time I want to experiment a little bit with making this more of a spicy relish.  I also wouldn't mind trying a version with apples in it.  But there will be a period of leaves, white stuff, spring, and summer before I have another go. 

Oh, and speaking of things homemade.  Check out this pink applesauce I made the other night. 

PINK!

Pepto pink. 

The color was accidental.  I did the normal little bit of water in a pot, add quartered apples (skin, seeds, and all) boiling down till the apples are soft.  Then run the mixture through a Foley mill. 

I am guessing these particular apples had a lot of red pigment in the skin.  Made for a pretty pink sauce to make us smile at dinner time!!

Hope you are enjoying a bit of cooking time in the kitchen as well... what have you been making?

Love in the Sky!

This amazing sky greeted me this morning!

Hope you are having an amazing day so far!  Happy Valentines Day too!

I am still working through several things I would like to share with you and this week promises to be another jam packet week full of goodness!!

Can't wait!

Crochet Hearts on a String

Yes, I also dabble with crochet.  I needed project I could tuck in my bag, work on for a few minutes at a time, and not feel guilty ignoring.  Voila... crochet hearts!! 

Do you read Design*Sponge?  I saw this post with instructions on how to create a cute heart garland!!  Fun right?

I used the Sugar and Cream brand yarn... one with lots of colors... some pink which you would expect, but I like the touch of fern green and charcoal!

I finished off one ball of yarn in about two days and those little hearts have brought peace and harmony to my hands and mind.  Can't think of woes whilst counting rows!

I haven't quite decided how many hearts I will put on a string... maybe lucky seven sounds right?

And I couldn't resist making a few from this pink, brown, and magenta baby yarn.  These are so soft!! 

I may make a few garlands to gift... or how cute would one of these be on a small gift box... or on a ribbon wrapped around a bunch of flowers?  I think you could even make them into a fabric note card!

Here's to busy hands to settle busy minds.

And to sending a little love your way.  XOXO

Confetti Quilt is Nearing Complete

Do you remember the bead/button dilemma with Confetti quilt discussed last week here?  (I previously showed you Confetting coming ALIVE here!)

Well, I went for it.  I added beads.  Lots of them.  Beka, can't wait to hear what you think!!

Here are the results so far. 

This is a shot of the whole 22 x 22 inch square.  Looking nice and chaotic, yes?

A close up of some of the beading.  I landed some on the negative space... and some right on the squares.

I also decided that since the quilting thread color matched the background so well... you can't really see it. 

My remedy... this bright pink thread path and a bit of my hand quilting to fix 'er up!

Another from the top shot.  I really enjoy the variety of beads, colors, shapes, and finishes.  And it's also neat because I have lived with these beads easily close to 10 years. 

And I feel like they finally have a purpose... a place to live... a place to shine!

So many of the beads have a story for me.  They are an awesome reminder of near and dear memories from my single days!

Here is another look at the hand quilting.  This is my first time trying it.  I am finding it really soothing as I pick my path through all the bits and confetti squares. 

The pink thread seems almost symbolic for my path through the chaos that is my life.  How's that for deep?

Some really pretty beads, right?

And there you have it.  I still need to finish the hand quilting.  Add binding -- going to use Monkia's Monika's new binding tutorial to try a proper method.  And I am still tempted to add a few more beads. 

The next look should be at my first finished 'artistic quilt!'

---Linking to Fabric Tuesday and other awesome parties from my left bar---

Looking for Guinevere

I have gotten so used to looking things up on my blog now that I nearly have two years of content.  I love how easy it is to find old projects, see progress on things, and find archived Katie photos.  So, when I went to look for my pink and orange girly quilt and didn't find it I was puzzled. 

I think it was a timing issue.  I started this blog in February 2009 and finished the quilt in March 2009 -- so I can see how it was maybe left off.

Why am I on this tangent?  I am planning a new quilting project and was looking back on my previous projects for inspiration.  That's when it hit me that I hadn't properly shown you this quilt yet. 

Let's fix this... introducing "Looking for Guinevere." 

The name is inspiration from my dog Katie who's original name was to be Guinevere.  You see the breeder gave all their pups royal names -- funny right?  And making this quilt was like the adventure we took for Katie to join our family... bits of this, a little bit random and lucky, not quite perfect, but we couldn't be happier to have her with us!  And the same goes for this quilt!

Here are a few of the blocks in progress.  So fun to see them come to life in the colors and fabrics I picked out.

I remember when I was working on this quilt.  It was cold.  And I enjoyed just dedicating myself to running into my command center (office) every night and working on this until my eyelids were too droopy to stay open. 

I just couldn't get enough.  So, when I saw the top sewn together for the first time I knew I was in love.  This is my first quilt.  My first large fabric piece.  The spark that ignited the intense love of all things soft and fabric!

At the time the largest space I had to work on was a small card table that I set up in my office.  I'm not sure I remember what was under the quilt at the time to cause that bulge, but I am guessing it was heaps of fabric, scissors, and books.

I originally did a quilting pattern only on the outer two most rows.  At the time it was all I could fit in before an art show that I entered this piece into.

Now, nearly 1.5 years later I have this hanging on my wall in my first house... and I realize just how much I love it! 


Here are some fresh outdoor pictures taken in the cold November air. 

And there it is.  My first fabric love. 

I have since started a queen-king size quilt for our bed and am ready to pick that project up again.  I am also working on a lap size quilt this week for a special person in my life who could stand to be a little bit warmer... a little bit more cuddled.

Quilting certainly sparked and re-sparked my love affair with fabrics and the comforting hum of the sewing machine!

Rise Up

Good morning!!  The sun is up, it's Friday and I'm ready to get this day going!

Valentine Gifties

I haven't shared the adorable gifts I got for Valentines Day yet.  That seems like it was ages ago already, doesn't it?  Valentines Day?  Sort of a fun to surprise to photo them now and take a closer look at how they are so cute!  Well, here they are.  

I have been striving for a plant in every room of the new house (bathrooms included), so I was tickled when I saw this.

Best parts?  It's green.  It looks like mini umbrella's.  And, it has the most adorable bow! 

Oh, that was the other part... the planter is yellow!  That wonderful cheery color that is a natural pick me up in the winter months!  

It has found a home on my kitchen table for the time being.  It's a cheery reminder of spring every time we sit down to dine!

I also got a jar with some rather yummy mix in it.  

Again, it's adorable.  The bow.  The stamp on the attached card.  And I have a real spot in my heart for mason jars!!

What's in it you ask?  Yup, beignet mix.  I have heard so many good things about beignet's!  They are puffy, they are French, they are decadent!

I'm looking forward to a nice quiet weekend morning to give these a try!

Das Bubbles

Sometimes you need and excuse try something new and celebrate a "Why the Heck Not Day" with a bottle of bubbly.  I tried the new Barefoot White Zinfandel Champagne.  It was a fun treat!

I really like how the bubbles look like fireworks or a volcano erupting on the surface.  This was the first time I tried to photograph moving bubbles and have to say I laughed A LOT in the process!

My "Why the Heck Not Day" was this past Sunday... when will your "Why the Heck Not Day" be?

Show me the PINK!

I saw the most amazing sunrise this morning.  Had to share the snaps I took quickly before I boarded the car to work!

Gorgeous!!

Breathtaking!!

Fantastic!!

Inspiring!!

Can you tell it really started my day right? *sigh*

Wishing you happiness wherever you are!!

Cotton Candy

When I see a cotton candy machine my heart skips a beat and I can almost immediately taste the sugar melting in my mouth. The sweet smell and little wisps of happy just waiting to be devoured!

Getting to see cotton candy made and have that cotton candy smell fill your nose = happiness!

Aren't the colors here so pretty and delicate?

Pink Flower

A bright pop of color to make you think of sunshine and smiles = happiness!

I really enjoy how delicate this flower looks with it's pointy edges, cute dark pink ring in the middle, and if you look closely -- the pink pedal color fades lighter as it reached the edge!