Summer Delight

I had the pleasure of my DS company for about a month following his graduation from college.  While he was with us he was a ball of energy, constantly helping out.  One of the things that he did was landscape around our home. He worked on the front:

Then he worked on the side.  It is here that I requested he plant a few herbs and vegetables:

So, what do I like most in my garden? 

BASIL ~ Ocimum basilicum

Originally from India

Sweet Basil ~ the type used in Italian food

After spending time in NYC with my other DS and sampling some delicious Basil Pesto at the Farmers Market (yes, to my surprise there was one right in the city) I decided to try to make some.  

I headed to my garden to pick the basil:

Next I measures the pine nuts and peeled the garlic, which I placed into the food processor:

Added the washed basil:

and pulsed until coarse.  Slowly I added 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil and processed.

I seasoned with salt and pepper and ended up with this:

After adding the Pecorino cheese and remaining EVOO my Basil Pesto was complete.  

The recipe is from The Food Network

Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese

Directions

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

If freezing, transfer to an air-tight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and stir in cheese.

YIELD: 1 Cup

What to do with Basil Pesto

*Use as a topping for spaghetti or linguine.

*Toast slices of French bread under the broiler. First drizzle olive oil on the    bread slices ~ toast ~ spread with pesto for quick appetizer.

*Mix with fresh green beans and zucchini slices, then steam.

*Top chicken breasts with pesto, then roast in the oven.

*Use as a dip for raw vegetables.

*Stir into rice or mashed potatoes.

*Pesto is delicious as a sandwich spread.

Now for some "stitchy" stuff....

The HOE BBD Exchange piece that I stitched for Deanne arrived.  This is what I stitched for her:

2012 HOE BBD

Designer: Blackbird Design

Design: Naughty or Nice

From BBD Book: Christmas Garden

32ct Linen Over One

Stitched for: Deanne

I recently completed this quilt top that I am giving as a gift:

The pattern, titled Hannah's Rainbow Quilt, can be purchased through Keepsake Quilting. 

The quilt will be sent to Texas next week so that it can be machine quilted by a fabulous quilter, whose work is top notch! I can't wait to see what she does with it.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by ~

Until next time...

Summer Stitching

I received a wonderful ornament from Kathy K. who stitched for me in the HOE Christmas Bird Exchange. She selected two different birds from Homespun Elegance and constructed this beautiful two sided ornament...

2012 HOE Christmas Bird Ornament

Designer: Homespun Elegance

Design: Merry Birdies

Stitched by: Kathy K.

What a great ornament.  I also received some sewing gadgets that will certainly  come in handy.  Thank you Kathy, I love what you sent.

My dear friend Carol offered up a few LHN patterns to me.  It did not take long for me to complete this one...

2011 Monthly Ornament

Designer: LHN

Design:Cardinal Winter

It now sits in my "finishing basket" along with a number of others.  Thanks again Carol!

I believe that Margaret gifted this pattern to Carol, who gifted it to me, and I will gift it as well.  If you would like this pattern just let me know in your comment.  If more than one person is interested in it then I will draw a name on July 20th. 

It has been less than three months since our sweet 15 year old Yorkshire Terrier passed away.  I wanted to stitch something for my sampler wall and decided on this LHN design...

Designer: LHN

Design: Dog House Sampler

I was up for a quick stitch so I selected this little BBD gem...  

Designer: Blackbird Design

Design: Peace

From: 2009 JCS Christmas Ornaments

Here is a little something that I stitched for my cousin...

Designer: Blackbird Design

Design: I Thee Wed

This should have been posted on June 19th ~ a bit late but here it is, my TUSAL:

TUSAL ~ June 2012

Thanks for stopping by...

Until next time...

TUSAL

TUSAL

TOTALLY USELESS SAL

I just wanted to post my ORT jar for the May 20th New Moon.  I will probably need to get a larger jar since this SAL runs the entire year. Do you want know more about this no pressure SAL? Click here

The FTT Friendship Exchange Arrived from Melissa and what a beautiful exchange piece it is...

FTT Friendship Exchange

Designer: Prairie Schooler

Design: PS Spring Design~

Birds and Baskets Sampler 

Stitched by: Melissa E.

Melissa does such wonderful needlework and this pinkeep is no exception!  Melissa, your beautifully stitched and finished handwork is nicely displayed on my Needlework tree...I can't thank you enough!

Suzanne S. let me know that the FTT Friendship exchange that I stitched for her arrived.  Here are a few pics...

FTT Friendship Exchange

Designer: The Sunflower Seed

Design: Storklette Scissor Holder

This is such a great design and such an easy finish.  The minute that I completed it I knew that I wanted to stitch it again for myself.

My DH and I spend quite a bit of our free time rummaging through antique and consignment shops.  It is so much fun to find treasures that other people decided they could live without.  Here a few pics of some of those treasures...

Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz Collection

I know, it is hard to believe that someone could actually live without these Wizard of Oz dolls.  Of course this was a real find for me, 4 of the 12 dolls: The Wizard, The Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man, and The Scarecrow.   These 5" dolls were distributed in 2007/2008 in McDonald's, Happy Meals.  The collection consist of: Dorothy, Glenda the Good Witch, Winged Monkey, Cowardly Lion, Wicked Witch of the West, Winkie Guard, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Flower Munchkin, Lullaby Munchkin, Lollipop Munchkin, The Wizard of Oz. 

Here is a collection of glassware that I found interesting...

I especially like the pieces that have the laced edge since these are perfect for holding small scissors. 

As a collector of P. Buckley Moss prints these 3 plates were a great find, one that I could not pass up: 

P. Buckley Moss Plates

The Celebration Series

The Wedding

The Christening

The Anniversary

I am keeping my eyes open for the 4th plate in this series titled, Family Reunion.  

Must end now to try to finish up on a cross stitch wedding gift.

Thanks for stopping by ~

Until next time...

A Few Of My Favorite Things

I hope all the blog reading Moms had a wonderful Mother's Day.  I received this gorgeous flower arrangement from my two favorite sons:

This was such a wonderful surprise and the flowers smell beautiful.   Thank you G and D for making my day extra special! 

Here is my favorite YouTube, so perfect for mother's Day. Get your tissue ready...

I thought that I would share with you my every growing collection of glass flower frogs.  I actually come across these often and have had to curtail my spending when it comes to these frogs..

I do have a few favorites, the green one and the frogs that are thicker...

I am finally finding time to post a picture of an amazing silhouette poster of The Wizard of Oz. 

This was given to me by my DSs on Christmas 2010 and I absolutely love it...

This Wizard Of Oz poster is composed entirely from the body text of Frank Baum’s classic novel. Carefully arranged, the words form an image in negative space of Dorothy and the gang skipping down the yellow brick road with the Wicked Witch of the West hovering over them.  Here is  bit of the detail...

How awesome is that???? Because we were planning on moving I decided to wait to get the poster framed. We are now settled in our new home and I am happy to say that my favorite poster is now on display in my sewing room.

A week from tomorrow is a very special day ~ my DS #2 will be graduating from Lehigh University.  We have had so much rain lately that I am hoping that the day is sunny and bright. When DS #1 graduated in 2009 it was not only raining, it was freezing.  I shall keep my fingers crossed that the weather cooperates this time!

Thanks for stopping by ~

Until next time...

Some Starts And Finishes

Thank you for your very kind words regarding the death of our sweet yorkie, Misha.  She really was a wonderful companion to each member of our family and we miss her daily.  I am so thankful that we have Lily who will never replace Misha but will forever warm our hearts and brighten our home.  It is hard to believe that she will turn 4 in a few weeks.

LILY

I learned that Karen K. received the HOE PS Ornament that I sent to her so I am free to post a picture:

2012 HOE PS Ornament

Design: 2004 PS Santa

Stitched for: Karen K.

The 50th Wedding Anniversary sampler is now framed and was presented to my Aunt and Uncle at their party last Saturday.

50th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Designer: Historical Sampler Company

Design: Family Tree Sampler

Like most stitchers I have so many projects started and really have no business tackling another one but I fell in love with this needlepoint canvas.  MY DH gifted it to me this past Christmas and I am just now finding time to start working on it.  

Ewe And Eye Needlepoint

Title: Village Scene

Artist: Karen Cruden

Many years ago I dabbled in needlepoint and last summer I ventured into "In Stitches" ~ a wonderful ship in Dorset, VT.  I was quickly drawn to some wonderful pieces and the very friendly owner, Maria.  With the help of Maria I hope to incorporate a number of specialty stitches to make this design spectacular.

On May 3rd we celebrated our 27th Wedding Anniversary ~ Only 23 more before the big 50th!

And here is the best part of 27 years of marriage:

DS and GF

Thanks for stopping by~

Until next time...