Saturday, July 30, 2011

Jekyll Island Morning Glories



One rainy afternoon while in Jekyll I decided to start a little watercolor painting from a photo I had taken on the beach.  It was of a pink flower that looked like a morning glory, but I'm not sure of the correct name.  It was such a bright pink and just stood out from everything else on the beach.  I just sketched it from my computer and enjoyed painting while it rained outside.

JEKYLL ISLAND TEXTURES



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

SUMMER ZUCCHINI

My son brought me a huge zucchini from his garden the other day.  It reminded me how much I miss really fresh vegetables.  We had a large garden about 30 years ago in Greenville SC and had fresh vegetables all summer.  




I cut it open to make some zucchini bread.  It sparkled like little diamonds.



The recipe called for 3 cups of shredded zucchini.  I had just enough.





And here is the freshly baked Zucchini Bread.  I got the recipe from a 1982 cookbook that my mother in law gave me.  Here is the recipe if you want to make some for yourself.

makes 2 loaves......so you can share this yumminess!

3 large eggs
2 cups brown sugar (dark)
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 cup salad oil
3 cups zucchini, peeled and grated
1 1/2 cup nuts (I used walnuts)
2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine eggs and sugar in large mixing bowl.  Add salad oil.  Stir in dry ingredients which have been sifted together.  Add zucchini and nuts.  Stir in vanilla.  Pour into prepared pans and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until browned.    Bake at 350 degrees.....


Here is my son about 28 years ago holding another huge zucchini in our garden.


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

THE AMY BUTLER WEEKENDER TRAVEL BAG

OK, I've had this Amy Butler Weekender Travel Bag pattern in my sewing room for a long time.  It seems to move around from my desk to cutting table to shelves to fabric shelf to hiding under my watercolor supplies, to my knitting stash and then to my bag of toilet paper rolls that I'm sure I'll use someday.  I keep thinking I REALLY SHOULD MAKE THIS BAG.  But it's just too intimidating.  I started reading blogs with pointers on the WEEKENDER.  I broke down, ordered some Amy Butler fabulous fabric and started cutting it out today.  Already, I love it.  I'm pretty sure I'll soon be saying I hate this, but for now I'm still in la-la land and can't wait to start on it tomorrow.  Stay tuned................


Sunday, July 10, 2011

AUBURN'S POISONED OAK TREES

I travelled to Auburn this weekend to help my daughter move into her new apartment.  We took a break and drove downtown.  I wanted to take a photo of Toomer's Corner and the oak trees that are rolled with toilet paper after every winning football game.  They were poisoned several months ago by a crazy U. of Alabama fan.  So far, they are still standing.  The oak tree on Magnolia was looking a little yellow to me and the one on College has lost a lot of leaves but they both had new leaves.  The specialists say now that they just may survive.



These signs were posted in front of the trees.


I was surprised to see so many people there doing the same thing I was.......taking pictures of the oak trees.  I thought it may be the last time that I'd see them.  You can see from this angle that they have lost several branches.


The roots are massive.  It would be such a shame if they died.  



Monday, July 4, 2011

ANOTHER LISETTE BLOUSE

I made another Lisette blouse today for my daughter.  This pattern is Lisette's Market Blouse Simplicity #2211.  I think it turned out so cute.  The darts make it a little more fitted.  The short sleeves have a little gathering so they are very flattering.  The faux placket makes for no buttonholes or zippers.  I was looking for an Anna Maria Horner fabric or Amy Butler fabric for this blouse.  Everything I found was too busy.  I decided on this piece of Michael Miller fabric that I bought at Red Hen Fabrics in Marietta.  It has a little retro feel and I liked the scale.  I thought Kelly would like it to wear with jeans or a skirt.  Plus it's a great summer weight for a fun easy peasy summery blouse.