Watermelons, Pups and Pickled Peppers!

Good Monday again!

Wow a two post day!!! Actually I am just trying to get caught up on my blogging!
A couple of posts ago I ask for suggestions on quilting the watermelon quilt, well suggestions I got, I finally managed to get out to my room to finish the watermelon quilt... I think it turned out really cute!I ended up using a simple loop on the melon part, and a nice rippleish on the rind, you can see the stitching in the light green area the best! Oh and I added the "seeds" because that was what made the watermelon!The rest of my weekend was all about pickling peppers! This was my first time ever making a pickled peppers, I hope they turn out OK, these are banana peppers and when they are done they should be like the pepperchini peppers you get at subway.Washed, seeded and ready to boil, I had just under a pound.. these came out of my garden, I have a couple dozen more still on the plant so will have to do this all over again in a few weeks!Boiled, and in the brine, the recipe was easy.... cider vinegar, water, sugar, garlic cloves, celery seed, mustard seed and salt. boil, simmer mix lid, water bath! Here are my little half pints in the water bath, I think I need to get a canning rack, the poor things just about rattled themselves silly! I did end up with 3 half pint jars of pickled peppers from 1 pound of peppers.OK last picture of the day, my baby, scoochy.... all snuggled in and ready for a nap in Torrie's freshly washed pretty fabric! Is he not pretty!

Well that was my weekend, I got a lot done, and had a wonderful visit with an old friend from high school plus a great visit with my friend Wendi!

I wish all of my weekends could go this well and productive!

Till next time, thanks for stopping in.

Ginny

Another Monday, finally have something to say!

Good Monday,

OK so I have had a ton to say, just waiting on pictures!

We had the BEST 4th of July, every year we have a neighborhood party, some times big some times small, we take turns hosting the party and this year was our turn, Well we kept it pretty small, close friends, and good neighbors, we ended up with about 20 people, with an even split between kids and adults. I think every one had fun, the food was good, and it was HOT, it topped right at 100 degrees that day, so we made up some water fun for the kids. T and her friend Julia filled about 250 water balloons, Stuart made a water balloon cannon (he was launching water balloons from out back yard, OVER the house on the the front yard of the across the street neighbors!) We also made up a dozen water wienies.. (rubber tubing, writing pen tip, fill with water = hours of wet fun)

The kids said the water fights were the best part of the 4th. Then of course we did tons of fireworks!

I was so busy that night that I did not get the chance to take any pictures, thankfully my wonderful neighbor Judy had her camera and took tons, here are some photos of our 4th.

One of my favorite parts of the evening was when we presented my neighbor Carl with the quilt top I have been working on for him. Carl (the seated gentleman) is one of our dearest neighbors, he has spent his life working in service to our country. He is one of the kindest and most caring people I know, I am proud to call him friend. I started this quilt in January, it went on the back burner for a long time as other things took over. I had not gotten it finished by the 4th, the poor thing still needed two side borders... but we showed him anyhow, the quilt is now on my frame waiting to be quilted later this week.

This is another picture of Carl's quilt, I am on the left, and Carl's friend Nancy is on the right. Nancy is visiting from Utah and is going to come over and help me quilt the quilt.

Carl and Nancy, what a nice couple! Oh I have to point out the table center piece, Morgen made several of them, they are coffee creamer containers, and construction paper, they looked like fireworks!
Yes this is me, I was ready to slap that camera by the time the night was over I do NOT like having my picture taken!!!
My back yard very small, and full of people... lets see.. Julia, Rina, Morgen, Doug, Annie and Berit.Stuart the Grill Master (and Darling Hubby!) Wendi and Morgen....In this one, Jessica, Julia, Rina, Morgen and Kendra.

And not a single picture of the fireworks!

Thanks for stopping by, I have another post coming soon of what else we have been up to. Stay tuned!

Ginny

Need quilting suggestions!!!

Good morning!

I just realized how long it has been since my last post!

I have actually managed to squeeze some sewing time in, I finally finished those cursed backpacks! I will post pictures of them soon. Officially I will NEVER do another backpack I truly hate them!!!

On the fun side of things I finished my block for next months block lotto at our local Craft Warehouse, I will have to take a picture of this block I really like it and was happy with the final results.

And I have begun work on another coffee wall hanging, matter of fact I was up till eleven last night working on it! (this is what happens when I have caffeine in the evenings - I just knew I should not have had that iced tea)

I am happy with how this one is coming along. I have also started work on Torrie's Jeff Gordon quilt. When our local Joann's closed I got an entire bolt of JG fabric for almost nothing. Torrie (who is a huge fan) ask me if I could make her a quilt, so I am using a pale blue minkee and going to make it similar to the red alien quilt below.

Oh and I am almost finished with the watermelon quilt that I have on the frame, I was stumped for a while on how I was going to quilt the green part of the watermelon (OK so still am but have an idea... If you have any suggestions let me know) I have done a basic stipple in the dark green areas, and loop t loops in the pink border area, for the pink watermelon area I am also doing loops, so I can sew black "seeds" in the loops. I am having a terrible time with the green "rind" area, I thing I am going to do peacock feathers to fill in the area... but am still not sure, having only 5 inches to work with is hard because I have to break it into smaller sections when I quilt.

So please for those of you who are quilters, I would love suggestions!!! I really do like this little wall hanging and want to get it finished before the summer is over!

Thank you for stopping by today, I promise I will post again soon...

We have a big neighborhood 4th of July party every year, and this year is our year to host... so have been gearing up for that...Wish me luck as I am NOT a natural hostess... I envy people who are!!!

So if I do not see you before then, have a safe, sane and happy 4th!

Ginny