Back to gardening!!!

We actually had a real winter this past year here in Houston. Really low temps (for here) & snow...I hated it, but we're finally back to growing some things in our lovely garden.

The blackberry bush is blooming!

Blackberry bush

We didn't think our berry plants would make it, but they did!

Yeah so D trimmed the raspberry bush a few months ago & he just threw the stems in the big box & look what has popped up. Now we have a whole new raspberry plant in the big box. :) Also, that front plant is either a ranunculus/peony plant. We thought we pulled all the plants out of there...obviously not. :D

Raspberry Bush

Strawberry Plant

(if you click on the pic you will notice the mint is invading the strawberry plant)

Jalapeno/Serrano Pepper Plant (notice the strawberry plant that is invading the peppers space?)

Zucchini Plant

Tomato Plant

We also have a bay leaf tree that we need to plant into a pot & I also really, really, really want a blueberry plant.

Sewing Boot Camp (Week 3)

We've started making our pajama pants!

You can barely see my back pocket in this picture.

We'll be done with them next Tuesday.

I'm really starting to enjoy sewing now. It's still a little nerve-racking (or nerve-wracking???) at times, but that's just because I strive to be a perfectionist (it's a fault of my mine that I'm trying to fix) and it sucks when my stitch goes all wonky. :D

Most of all I love spending time and learning to sew with my Mama. :)

Yummy Goodness

Just some recent food pics to make you drool. :)

Broccoli & Cheese Souffle

Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup (recipe from Bon Appetit)

Beautiful sourdough bread

A close-up of the wheat stalks.

Mollusks for Dinner

One weekend we had a craving for mussels & clams.

We love our mussels.

And we love our clams.

But I think I love grilled clams better. Yummy!

Sewing Boot Camp (Week 2)

We made totes this week!

A close-up of our projects.

And a couple of poses. :)

Now if only we could remember all of the steps it took to get to the final product. :D

I need to study and have lots of practice before I make these as gifts. :)

Next week's project? Pajama Pants. I'm scared. :)

Baby Dan's addictions

There are 4 things that Baby Dan just LOVES.

1. His Mom. :)

2. His Quilts.

3. Chocolate. Which of course he can't have and we don't give him, but you should see this little fellow when there's chocolate around. One time he literally jumped off the back of the couch trying to get to some that my mom had. Crazy!

4. Yogurt. Oh this boy of mine LOVES him some yogurt. :)

We bring home FroYo and he will sit next to me begging me to give him some yummy goodness. :) We always give him just a little off the finger.

We open a container of yogurt and he comes running. He'll sit like this the whole time until he gets just a little taste.

Silly Baby Dan.

Sewing Boot Camp (Week 1)

My mom and I are learning to sew!

I bought classes for my mom for her birthday.

Every Tuesday evening for 4 weeks my mom and I will be taking a 2-hour class.

This was my little sewing machine.

Our 1st project was to make a pillow case cover. They turned out beautiful!

Success!

It's amazing how you are ironing, pinning, and sewing fabric and then all of sudden voila you've made something nice. So fun!

Next week's project? The tote. Stay tuned to see how we do!

My new favorite yummy things

Surprisingly delicious!

Scrumptious!

Simple & Delicious.

My favorites are apple pie, cherry pie, and banana bread.

I love, love, love Quinoa. It's delicious for dinner & breakfast. YUM!

Goat Cheese Cheesecake

I'm not a fan of cheesecake, but goat cheese cheesecake? Now that I do LOVE.

The first time I enjoyed it was at Magnolia Grill in Durham, NC made by Pastry Chef Karen Barker. If you get the chance I highly recommend you go. Their big thing is seasonal cooking and they use local, available ingredients so the menu is always changing.

We have the cookbook and Dan recreated the cheesecake perfectly. It's undeniably one of the best desserts ever and that's saying a lot coming from someone who has a sweet tooth. :)

Want the recipe? Oh yes, yes you do!

Leave a comment/Email/Message me & I'll share the recipe.

Making Delicious Pretzels

I can make a good pretzel. :)

Oh my goodness talk about scrumptious!

Want the recipe? Yes, I think you do. Click here.