April's Color

It's been six days since my last post, and we've had crazy weather that felt more like winter than spring. Rain, wind, hail, and temperatures in the 30s were the norm this week. But that didn't stop my tulips from finally blooming.

Last week they were mostly buds, and now...

...a proliferation of color, almost as tall as the Japanese Maple! How I love spring, even when she masquerades as winter. She's not fooling me. ~CJ~

Garden Kitties in the Sun

It's one of my delights...my kitties follow me out into the garden. First they roll around on the patio. I assume it's a good back-scratch for them. And then they find a sunny spot to soak up the sun, sometimes keeping an eye on me, and sometimes just closing their eyes and enjoying the warmth (like Rascal kitty, above).

We've had a crazy cold and wet spring this year. But Sunday morning, for just a few hours, the sun was bright and warm. Mother Nature celebrating Easter, I believe. The kitties and I enjoyed some time in the garden soaking it up.

About a month ago I cut last year's leftover catnip sticks down to little nubs, in anticipation of replanting in a new, unbroken pot. Patch kitty is in love with the catnip nubs. See how she hangs out on the pot...and then practically curls up inside? I love to see her enjoying herself so!

My first tulips are in bloom. Such intense yellow and red. One exotic firey pattern. How can they be so perfect? Year after year they never fail me!

There are many more to bloom. It's just beginning!

The hyacinth is as delicate and uber-fragrant as ever. It seems I can smell it now, just looking at this picture! Can you catch a whiff too?!

There's nothing like a sunny, flowery garden to lift the spirit and fill us with peace and appreciation for the beauty of the earth. ~CJ~

Cupcake Craziness

Buttered corn on the cob, spaghetti and meatball, bunny face, peep, swimmin' fishies, spring flowers, etc. My good friend Elizabeth and I collaborated on these sweet creations! (How about the broccoli?!)

Minestrone Soup Photo Story

I've always wanted to do this...photograph the making of a recipe. So here it is...my photo story of making minestrone soup. Which turned out very yummy, by the way! The recipe is at the end.

 

Scrumptious! Here's the recipe (adapted from www.food.com):

Minestrone Soup

3 tbs olive oil

1 cup minced white onion (about 1 small onion)

3/4 cup chopped zucchini

1/2 cup frozen green beans

1/2 cup minced celery (about 2 stalks)

4 tsp minced garlic (about 4 cloves) or 1 tsp garlic powder (if you don't happen to have fresh)

3 (14-oz) cans vegetable broth

2 (15-oz) cans red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 (15-oz) cans great northern white beans, drained and rinsed

1 (14-oz) can diced tomatoes, including liquid

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 tbs minced fresh basil

1/4 tsp dried thyme

3 cups hot water

4 cups fresh baby spinach

1/2 cup small shell pasta

Directions:

1. Head 3 tbs of olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot.
2. Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.
3. Add vegetable broth to pot, plus tomatoes, beans, carrots, hot water, and spices.
4. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until desired consistency.
6. Makes about eight 1 1/2 cup yummy servings.

Enjoy! I sure did! ~CJ~

Gold!

I did some birthday stitching for my dad based on childhood memories of our gold panning days at Coldwater Creek in the Sierra mountains of Northern California. During the summers that we lived in California, our family would camp for a week or so in the California mountains, and dad would pan for gold. He taught us kids how to pan as well, but we spent most of our time playing in the creek. Did he ever find a nugget? Of course! Many! Although, none so huge as in the stitchery. Ha ha!

I found the image on the internet and added the surrounding details. 

The best part was finding gold, sparkly embroidery thread for the nugget!

So fun to put a smile on dad's face with this little surprise. ~CJ~

Wrap-Up Time

I've been cutting, sewing, and stitching:

And Holly and I put our hands together for this one:

 

And I've been knitting, too.

All for a little baby boy who's due to make his appearance in early June. And today, we wrapped it all up and gave it away! The most fun part of all! ~CJ~

A Knitty, Sewy, Crazy-Weather Weekend

As much as I'm looking forward to spring really coming and staying, I actually enjoy when the weather takes a wintery turn and I feel like sitting inside knitting. That's what happened this weekend. We went from the 70s on Friday to the 30s on Sunday, with snow and even a touch of hail. Yes, those are hail stones on the grass and in the flower bed. They should be blossoms...what's going on?!

It didn't take long for the hail to melt, and here (in the hail-free, dry grass) is my cute little Baby Sophisticates sweater that I've been working on. Spring cannot make up her mind! This time, I made the trim a different color. What do you think?

I just have the sleeves to finish and then it will be time for the buttons. This pattern never fails me. It works up beautifully each time and is so satisfying to knit! 

Holly was home for the weekend and worked on her adorable blue and brown baby sweater. She branched out to a new pattern this time. I love the colors together and the cute ribbing on the neck and bottom. It's really sweet to have knitting in common with my daughter. Our knit-sticky times together are so fun when she comes home for a visit!

Holly whipped up a fat blue chicken, too! I don't have a finished photo yet; more to come! Check back, cause it's too cute to miss!

 

We did a little sewing, too. But mums the word on this one. More in about a week!

Patch-Kitty made herself at home up on my table next to the sewing machines. She's never done that before, and I couldn't resist the photo op. It's my favorite spot, too! (Not on the table, though, in the chair!)

We had a birthday occasion - Holly's - and she put in her order for lemon cake (a variation of my favorite lemon bread recipe). Can you just smell the wonderful, fresh lemon aroma?!

It's dense and lemony, and works perfect in a bundt pan. The best part is the sweet lemon glaze that soaks in while it's hot. I'm sharing the recipe, which has been a family favorite for years. I remember my mom making this as lemon bread since I was a teenager. This recipe below is doubled for the bundt cake pan.

Lemon Bundt Cake

2/3 cup butter

2 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup milk

Cream butter and sugar. Blend eggs into the mixture one at a time. Add flavoring. Blend in milk.

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp salt

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together. Blend into wet mixture a little at a time.

2 Tbs grated lemon peel

1 cup nuts (optional)

Fold in lemon peel and nuts.

Pour into greased and floured bundt pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes, until golden and toothpick comes out clean. Wait 5 minutes and turn cake onto serving plate.

Make glaze of 6 Tbs fresh lemon juice and 1/2 cup sugar. Spoon glaze over hot cake just out of the oven. My mom's tip is to poke little holes in the top of the cake with a toothpick before pouring the glaze over, so it soaks in really well. Thanks, Mom! 

Enjoy! ~CJ~