Another Bart moment!

Irresistible is a good word to describe Bart. He was caught by number one granddaughter and hauled around until he landed in our laps! His limp body shows that he must have enjoyed all the attention, because he never once got upset or tried to run.

These are the moments I want to remember, hold close and share!

Flower, LA, LJ, and Bart

Blackberries, Peaches and Zucchini

The blackberry bushes are dripping with berries and the neighbors peach trees are laden with fruit. I've been picking, canning and dehydrating for days.

Wild Blackberries

Red Haven Peaches

Canned Peaches.....done.
Blackberry jelly and Peach Preserves...done.

Dehydrator

When our kids were young we purchased a L'Equip food dehydrator. I began drying anything and everything. This is the first time I've tried drying zucchini. 5 Acres & A Dream got me thinking about taking on zucchini in this way.

Zucchini....done.

Apples are next!


When the rain begins and the North wind blows....we will feast!

Inspired...fun and lively!

Julie & Julia was one the most entertaining movies I've seen in a long time. My husband and I saw it last night and found it to be inspiring. If you love food, (who doesn't) love a good laugh, (who doesn't) and want to watch something uplifting....go!
Now, where is my Julia Childs cookbook? The Boeuf Bourguignon a La Julia Child is a must!
Go here to get it. :)

Prayer Power by Peter Lundell

A blog tour to help strengthen your prayer-life

In Prayer Power, author Peter Lundell shares his own personal struggle with communicating with God and provides insight from examples in Psalms and the gospels for Christians to examine to bulk up their prayer life. Lundell ends each chapter with growth gauges and suggested prayer activities to encourage and establish routine prayer time. You'll find his honest approach to prayer refreshing, his transparency encouraging and his instruction helpful and practical.

In the crazy world around us, our prayers may too often seem ineffective. PRAYER POWER is the tool you can use to build a more powerful and dynamic life of prayer.Intensely practical and straightforward, PRAYER POWER helps you improve on thirty essential facets of prayer such as passion, routine, fasting, praying with others, listening to God, handling distractions, and spiritual warfare. In each brief chapter you'll be inspired by stories of people whose lives of prayer give us powerful examples.PRAYER POWER can be used as a month-long devotional, a prayer guide, or a reference for help in specific areas. Whether you're a new believer or think you've heard it all, this book's refreshing and honest insight will guide you to a deeper connection with God.

Peter Lundell, a former missionary to Japan, is a pastor at Walnut Blessing Church in Walnut, California. He has an MDiv and DMiss from Fuller Theological Seminary and is the founder of the Walnut Valley Pastors' Prayer Network. Lundell is the author of two books, and his articles have appeared in magazines such as Guideposts and Pray!

GRAND PRIZE BUNDLE INCLUDES:
(leave a comment for an opportunity to win this great package)

Prayer Power by Peter Lundell
When God Turned off the Lights by Cecil Murphey (Cec is one of Peter's mentors)
Committed but Flawed by Cecil Murphey
Also includes: Prayer Journal, Pen, and Candle

Please share this blog tour with other interested bloggers you talk with along the way this week! I will draw a name from all who have commented and send it on for the grand prize drawing at Willis Communications. http://www.kathycarltonwillis.com/ Publisher: Revell (1/1/09)
Language:English
ISBN-10: 0800732634
ISBN-13: 978-0800732639
240 pages
Retail: $12.99

Sewing...on second thought....

I might not sew again for a while after trying to make this simple project! All I wanted was a small camera case but I would have been ahead to buy one from the camera department of Target!
The pattern was $14.50. Maybe if I made all the other goodies that came with the pattern it would pay off. I'm pretty sure I won't make anything else from this pattern due to the instructions that I found to be really poor and indiscernible. I even had my husband read them and we laughed together as I continued to be forlorn.
Anyway, I chose two fat quarters from my stash of fabric and began to layout the pieces....

.....cut them out, in order and according to the instructions.

When the bag was sewn together, lining and interfacing included, there was one pattern piece left! I can't figure out where it was suppose to go. The Velcro was difficult to sew onto the bag. My machine didn't like the fussy side and ate some of the fluff from it. I found the fluff when I took the bobbin out to examine! Any advice from anyone out there? Should I change the needle or something?

The little bag is done, it's imperfect in many ways (corners are not tight, pocket is not straight) but it might be worth trying a second bag. If the next one doesn't turn out better, like I said... I may not sew for a while! :))

Pickle Day!

Saturday was dill pickle canning day. They are not difficult to can, but it does require most of the day. A good recipe and a few key ingredients are important; 25 lbs of cucumbers, one gallon vinegar, pickling salt, water, red peppers, garlic, grape leaves, dill and wide mouth canning jars.

After all the jars were filled, four of them did not seal and one jar broke in the canner. I put the unsealed jars directly in the refrigerator and they will still pickle! Now we wait several weeks for the pickling process to take over the fresh cucumbers......just like last year. Go here to see last years pickle day and find the recipe.

Just for fun I've added a few pictures from around the flower garden. When looking through the various pictures I noticed some tiny bugs were in the frames. Below is an orange zinnia with a green hopping bug. This bug chews on the flowers...but only takes small bites!

The Bumble Bee was sleeping...not working. I think it got too late to go back to the hive, so the bee decided to spend the night on the daisy. More zinnias showing off their bright beautiful colors! Of all the flowers around our farm these are the best, biggest and most colorful!!

We are promised hot weather by Wednesday. I am preparing ahead for meals and getting the more labor intensive chores done. I plan to do a little sewing on the hot days...check back later in the week to see what I've done. Have a good week!!

Inspiration from the garden

Taking inspiration from the garden is easy when such rich color and interesting shapes are there for the picking! Egg plant is the most charming vegetable we have ever grown!

After placing the egg plant on the kitchen counter, I began to transform a piece of watercolor paper by sketching, and then painting. Alizeran Crimson, French Ultra Blue, and Gambouge were used to compile the palette. Wash upon wash creates the depth and richness in this picture, which I fondly have named "Inspiration from the garden."

Egg plant Parmesan is for dinner tonight! The recipe comes from http://www.allrecipes.com/.

True refreshment

Going to the Oregon Coast brings a feeling of escape from the everyday routine of life. As you know, it has been hot in Portland, so this trip promised true refreshment and new appreciation for the lovely coastal breezes. As is often the case, when it's clear and hot inland, it is cool and cloudy at the beach. The clouds parted off and on and the sun streamed through the puffs to show us something quite heavenly in nature!! The days past quickly and we returned home with renewed energy and vigor! Flowers at the coast are magnificent. The salt air enables them to grow lush and plentiful! All of the flowers here were found at Salishan, (a resort community) and in the market place. One man has taken on the plantings and many of the flowers are not common to me. Do you know what the unnamed flowers are?

Nicotina Alata

Poppies

Hollyhock

Bells of Ireland..with wings!

Tick seed

Oregon Coast...Summer getaway with the girls!

I'm off to visit the Oregon Coast with my good friends. Tradition was set many years ago to gather for this time of laughter, walks on the beach, interesting movies, talks late into the night and good food!

Clam chowder and chocolate are a must!! I'll be back soon!

Ribbons of Green

Which animals came across my path this week?

Rabbits, Robins, Butterflies,Blue dragonflies, and a peeping deer!

The peeping deer didn't wait for me to set the camera correctly..and off he ran. (He has two little horns forming)! This was my week in Ribbons of Green!

Would you like to join me in posting your Ribbons of Green? Make it as original as you are and link back to me, Flower. Have fun!!