50Th post

OOOOOHHH!! I am so excited!! DSH bought a card reader for me today and we loaded pictures into the computer. Now, all we have to do is figure out how to get the pictures on my blog. I'll have one of the kids help. I'm getting closer to having a half way decent blog. I have so many pictures I want to share :D

41 Taylor

This weekend I had the privilege of meeting not one but two blog friends. DSH and I went to Reno for a short vacation and our trip coincided with the open house of 41 Taylor which is a fantastic new venue for parties, meetings, family reunions, etc. It is a darling old house that the two Tracey's cleaned up and decorated with paint, elbow grease and creativity. They are AMAZING! I had so much fun meeting them both and talking with them. Hi Tracey and Tracey! It was great meeting you both!

Fabric

I got some great fabric in the mail today. It is from Scotland. I now have five sewing projects to work on and no time to sew. Plus, every project needs something like seam binding, elastic, buttons or interfacing. I have a list started and I must run to the fabric store. I need more thread for the current project. The trouble is, I haven't sewn in years and I am in a "new" sewing room that is tiny as all get out. I have a ton of thread so I assumed I had enough light pink for my dress. The fabric is a tweed-looking light pink and lavender that ravels (unravels?) like crazy. I decided to be clever and zigzag every piece before I start constructing the garment. I ran out of pink thread but, nothing is unraveling! Every time I go into the sewing room/office, the dress taunts me. I could be sewing right now if I had thread! Sigh!!! I really don't like starting another project before finishing one, so, no progress.

Another dog post

Last night was an interesting night. Illegal fireworks, apricots and dog vomit. Nice. Quite a few neighbors, near and far, do illegal fireworks. Our dogs have always done well because they are hunting dogs and are used to gun fire overhead. Bailey did great, but, Buck the white setter was very disconcerted. He whined and barked at the shrill sky rockets people were sending up. We didn't go to bed until after midnight. At 4:45 am I was rudely awakened by Bailey who was vomiting. The dogs sleep on the floor next to our bed on DSH's side. He, of course, slept through the whole thing! I got up to check on Bailey and sure enough, a pile of bile and an apricot pit, was on the floor. Bailey loves apricots and they are falling off the tree right now. When I've seen her eat them she has always spit out the pit so I never worried about her eating one. We have picked and given away a ton and I have a ton on the counter waiting to be processed for the freezer. But, we can't keep up with the tree. More picking will be done this week. Anyway, to continue with my fascinating tale, I stayed awake listening for Bailey. I just knew she wasn't finished. Sure enough, she got up to go out two more times in the next hour and a half and vomited both times. I'm glad she made it outside. I did not get enough sleep. At 7:00am I told DSH that Bailey and I had been up half the night and he missed the fun. I went back to sleep and DSH got up. He left the dogs in the room with me while he studied Air Stream trailers. (It's on the wish list) I slept until 11:00am!! Sunday shedule has totally changed. No church, no garage cleaning but we will get our wedding gift for next weekend and we will see Margaret in the nursing home.

Have a great week and watch out for those evil apricot pits!

Independence Day

Happy Birthday, America!

Have a wonderful Independence Day, everyone.

More dog fun

Yesterday we were sitting out front on our enclosed patio where the apricot tree is. We have a nice table and chair set with umbrella and the weather was perfect for lunch outside. The branches of the apricot tree are long and heavy with fruit so they are hanging about three feet off the patio decking. Our English Setter, Buck, decided the apricots looked good and were ready to eat (they aren't). He stood on the deck and stretched out his long white neck and tried to gingerly pluck an apricot off the tree with his lips and teeth. He is so gentle and careful. He couldn't quite reach the lowest apricot so as he tried to grab it, the branch started bobbing and waving. He did not want to raise up on his hind legs to grab that green apricot. I started encouraging him to "get it, Buck, get it". It was hysterical watching him try to get an apricot that was just out of his reach. When I started my encouragement, our other dog, Bailey decided to get in on the act. She is smaller than Buck but she is a real get-it-done kind of girl. She got tired of his mealy mouth antics and jumped up in the air, grabbed an apricot and took off with it! Mr. Buck was left high and dry. He does better with the tomatoes that are just his height! Yes, he does pick tomatoes and eats them. He cracks me up!

I sewed most of the day yesterday making outfits for the two little granddaughters. It is a pattern I used over 25 years ago for my girls when they were this age. My daughter was supposed to go with me Friday to pick out the fabric but she forgot (oops!). I picked something out for them myself and hopefully my daughter will like what I got! It is fun to be sewing again.

Happy Father's Day to everyone out there!

Daughters

This has been the week of the girls. After hunting last weekend, we met the oldest in Sacramento for lunch. We had a great time eating, catching up and laughing. I am so glad her schedule meshed with ours! It would have been so fun to see her hubby, also, but we will see them both in July at his sister's wedding. I can't wait (I LOVE to dance at weddings and I have permission from my daughter to make a fool of myself, it is her in-laws after all!).

We had the second daughter, her husband and two little people over for dinner the next day. We went to the park with the dogs and her family, to play. Strawberry shortcake for dessert!

Fourth daughter and her boyfriend (my nephew, no blood: they are step-family), met us as the nursing home to visit her grandmother on her 91st birthday. We had a very fun visit, telling jokes and keeping my husband's mother company. Big news was shared in the parking lot. More later when I have permission to share.

Third daughter came over for dinner last night. We don't see her nearly as often as the other three because of choices she has made that have presented some difficulties. We call, email and invite often but she is very busy and doesn't come over as often as we would like. She will be having our third granddaughter in August. Baby shower planning is in the works. We had a yummy dinner that she liked well enough to copy the recipe. That spells success in my book.

Here is the recipe:

12 to 16 oz rotelle pasta
3 zucchini cut in 1" cubes
2 red bell pepper cut in 1" chunks
1 red onion cut in 1" chunks
2 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
3 T olive oil
1/2 tsp pepper
salt to taste
1 pint red and yellow small tomatoes
1 Cup fresh basil chopped
1 T red wine vinegar

In 450 degree oven, roast zucchini, red pepper, onion, garlic, oil, salt and pepper. 35 min stirring once. Toss tomatoes with basil and vinegar. Cook pasta during the last 10 minutes of the vegetables roasting. Save 1/4 C of pasta water after cooking pasta to toss with all the ingredients. In large bowl put drained pasta, roasted veggies and tomato mixture along with reserved pasta water. Toss and serve hot.

Last night I added cooked chicken and grated on some Parmesan cheese. We had french bread along side and it was an easy dinner.