Giveaway!

Not from me...from this very cool looking shop: Imagine Childhood . I think some of my friends with little ones would really enjoy a peek around there! Right up your alley! Beautiful toys to encourage imagination & developing little minds! Go...check it out! ('cept I want to win cool new preschool toys!-I love new preschool toys)

MMMMM...Cake

White chocolate pound cake with strawberry butter cream. So yummy!
The butter cream freezes pretty well, too...this cake is glazed with the last cup from a previous batch of cupcakes.

The berries are from my sad little garden (the strawberries are the only thing not sad)

Both recipes are from The Cake Mix Doctor. As one who seems incapable of making a nice cake from scratch, this book is an absolute favorite! Every recipe starts with a box & you fix it up...always fantastic!
This frosting is a favorite...but it always turns out more like a thick glaze for me. Maybe it has something to do with my refusing to put in the entire amount of sugar. Tastes so very, very yummy no one will complain!
My sweet lunch guests didn't :)

When the kids are away...

My kids have been fishin'/campin' with their grandparents for a long weekend. So, My super-cool husband took the opportunity to spend some real time together! He booked us a hotel, I got to ride the light rail, I had such a fantastic time! All for a...Date day to the Seattle Art Museum! I love it!! I love the artifacts & everyday useful items as art! All the china, some centuries old furniture, church bits, antique silver, cloth, etc! I think every day items as art is such a fantastic, yet somehow obvious idea! Of course it's art, someone had an idea and executed it with their own hands! Awesome. (and, I love all the paintings, sculptures & stuff, too)
The Andy Warhol exhibit was so intriguing. Everything was stripped down & so intimate and eerie. Photo booth portraits, Polaroids, etc...Brilliant. Loved it. There was a photo booth there, but it was out of order...sad me.(only for a second!)
I loved the Kurt Kobain exhibit, too...what a diverse collection. I love being reminded that everyone expresses themselves in a different way. That we all see and process the world a little differently.

The robot was actually in the street...I like him & figured he fits the art theme. I love Seattle.
(We also spent an eve out for dinner & a movie with friends, had a sweet family to our home for dinner, I enjoyed a day all to myself...I'd say we took full advantage of our time!) I'll be so glad to have them home.
Thanks for reading me crazy long um...essay! Guess I had a lot to say.

Almost...

Almost through my unfinished quilt box!..I've finished & delivered the baby quilt to my tiny friend. I'll post pics soon (though ~C's are so lovely!)....A side note on the above pic: That's 2 quilts on a half-price batting! Good deal!

Today, I got to spend the whole day home alone. Sweet! I get plenty of "me" time but, today was a special treat! To celebrate, I gave myself a break from quilts & made a jersey skirt. All that's left is the hem...I must say I'm pretty proud of it & have one or two more planned for the fall!
It was so nice to eat on my own schedule & finish something without being interrupted in the middle of a seam or be called for while my hands are full, etc...I'm so refreshed!

Blackberry Season!

Hooray! I Love, LOVE blackberries. They grow like mad right in my neighborhood, too! Last night I just wandered across the street & picked the first harvest. Then, my kids did it, too! They are rarely interested in picking berries when I invite them, but the one time I don't, they really got excited! Funny boys. It wasn't much..not yet (unless you have a thorn-proof suit! Why do the very best berries grow just out of reach?) The boys enjoyed theirs with "too much" cool whip. (Too-much just means LOTS) I made mine into delicious muffins for breakfast. Though, blackberry season does mean summer's end is near. But there'll be pie soon!

My latest favorite touch for fruit muffins is to sprinle lots of vanilla sugar on top. It makes them all crunchy & yummy!

Two down...

3 to go! The quilt box is slowly empty-ing!

The first is actually a repair job...It's one of my very first quilts. I think it's still the biggest I've ever made. It was sewed 11 years ago as a wedding gift. I didn't cut the binding on the bias & it split!! So, i took it all apart, put in new batting (i also under-quilted it o, the batting ripped & bunched), added to the backing & put on new binding! I hope it lasts another 11 years.

The Christmas quilt I made & quilted last summer...It' a hop-hop quilt. Mom & I spent 4th July weekend last year driving down the Oregon coast & she gave me all her free quilt block. I think I'll hang it by my sparkly kitchen Christmas tree.
Next up...one of 3 over due baby quilts!

Sometimes I paint

This seems to be the summer of big projects! Last weeks project: painting my entire classroom. I have my own little building and it really was quite a job. I did have some fantastic help & support, though! A very good friend drug her 2 little ones to the paint store to act as my color consultant & another friend Came with her 4! kids every day-all day to help paint(and then on the weekend & this week, too!)! This same amazing woman has already spent countless hours sorting, cleaning, organizing all my materials, toys , and curriculum! A job that I have been in the process of for 3 years she completed in 2 months! Bring it on, September!!
I now have the most beautiful room in all the school!!
Ongoing summer project: finish all the quilts in my quilt box
This weeks project: clean out a garage
next weeks project: prep classroom for school
Whew!