Oh, How Does My Garden Grow?

Like this:

L-R: cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, sunflowers
Not Available for Photo:  dying strawberries and blueberries

My Garden Helper

Up Close and Personal with Basil

I am completely enamored with my tiny garden.  So far, I've enjoyed tomato and basil bruschetta, big slices of tomato on turkey sandwiches, and thick-sliced tomato and basil leaves sprinkled with a little salt and pepper and olive oil.  I'm anxiously awaiting the cucumbers to start doing their thing.  I've got lots of blooms, but no cukes!  I have to admit, though, my absolute favorite part of the garden is the routine that P and I have in the afternoons.  Not long after we get home, we head outside and tend the garden.  Her favorite part?  Wadening the mayus.  Or, "watering the tomatoes" in non-2-year-old speak.  She sings it while she helps me hold the water hose, and then helps me hunt for any tomatoes that might need picking...and a few baby ones that could have used a week or so  more on the vine.     

And HERE is how it all started.

I Scream You Scream

I love Everyday Food magazine.

source: Not Martha

Not only is it fun to browse through every month, but the recipes are usually spot on.  In last month's issue was coconut-lime semifreddo...and it was DIVINE!  Unfortunately [or fortunately, depending on your point of view], I'm the only one in my house who likes coconut.  So, guess who devoured the entire dessert all by her lonesome?  Yep.  This girl.

Give 'er a try.  Go HERE for the Shutterbean Everyday Food-approved adaptation.  It tastes like summer and the beach and being on vacation, and it's a cinch to whip up.  Who knew you could make something so creamy and tasty without an ice cream maker?!

Plus Quilt in Progress

 H needs a new quilt.  I made her one when I first started quilting that is lap size - I wasn't confident enough to make anything bigger. 

I got the patterned fabric, Amy Butler Love fat quarters, using a gift certificate to Hawthorne Threads that Lauren got me for my birthday. The solids are a fat quarter set I got from Connecting Threads for a song!  I love their sales. 

I found two patterns that used 20 fat quarters, one easy with large blocks and minimal cutting, and one that has 320 (4.5-inch) blocks.  Guess which one she chose?