Pots and Pins

Everything's Coming Up Tulips!

When the sun shines in Seattle everyone basically stops what they're doing and heads outside because it is such a rare occurrence!  We have had several perfect days in a row now and it has been grrrrreat!   And...the moutain was out!

When the mister and I visited the tulip fields, we weren't so lucky...it was cloudy, gray and a bit on nippy side, but we did have color!

Some little guy enjoying the mud!  Tulips as far as the eyes can see - it's pretty amazing!

The rain held off long enough for us to walk around the little town of LaConner and enjoy all the fun and quirky shops.  We had lunch at Nell Thorn Farms, a farm-to-table restaurant; every bite was delicious!

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we headed back into the fields for some more photos...I was ready for the mud with my Wellies...and after watching a little boy do a happy dance in mud, I did the same!  The pic on the right is the trunk of a very old poplar tree - the trees surrounded one of the fields we visited.

 

 

 

 

Click on the pics to see a larger one - then you'll be able to see the details in the fence which is made from croquet mallets, rakes, shovels, and pretty much everything you can imagine!  This fence/house used to be the Bunnies By The Bay shop in LaConner, but they have moved into a tiny shop on the main street.  I used to love going to that shop because it was so charming and full of fun things...now the fun is gone!  See the carrots on the railing on the porch?!?  Don't you just love that?!?  I had to include the pic of the daschund in the doggie stroller...must remember to show that to Caesar Beezer the Wonder Dog, he will not be amused as he has no stroller!

The Tulip Festival usually runs the month of April, it's about done now.  When we were about half of the fields had already been plowed under, and the daffodils were long gone.  The tulips are grown for bulbs which are then sold - if you've never been, put it on your bucket list - it's really something to see and it's far cheaper to visit Seattle to see tulips than say, fly to Holland!...Unless you live in Holland! 

We also stopped at Snowgoose Produce Farm - they have great hand-made baskets, bedding plants, and all kinds of fresh springs veggies, including asparagus, leeks, and ramps!  We bought all of the above plus fresh rhubarb, home-made bread and halibut...and then as we were driving home the rains came down...traffic backed up and we crawled along at 25 mph for an hour!  The mister let his displeasure be known at every mile marker...but I barely heard him - I had my earphones on and while he was ranting and raving I was trippin' along to Justin Timberlake!  Every now and then I would nod or say uh-huh and he was none the wiser!  We do what we can....

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Do me a favor - and yourself one, too...go and visit my good friend's blog:

 Joni Hilton is an author (she wrote all of those books pictured above!), speaker, radio-show-host, former TV show host, former Miss California and I could go on and on and on...but you need to go and check out her blog and see for yourself how great she is!  

If you want to impress family and friends with delicious desserts, Joni has won about as many cooking contests as books she's authored - which is a lot - so click on Cooking with Joni for some drool-worthy recipes!

For you writers, be sure to click on Writing Class with Joni, you will definitely learn a thing or two from her!

Saturday morning her radio show streams live so you can listen no matter where you live!  Joni has great advice on any topic you can think of - so you can even call in and talk to her!  You can listen at 9am PST on AM 1380 KTKZ...just type those call letters into your browser and you'll be set!

Joni is clever, witty and very funny - reading her blog every morning would definitely kick-start your day!

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Q.A.P. - Quilting Aging Process...

Today over on Sew We Quilt at Stash Manicure I'm guest posting yet again!  I'm shocked that I got asked back!   Shocked!  But today will probably put an end to any future posts...today I'm divulging the secrets to the Quilting Aging Process...in other words...why it can take YEARS to make/finish a quilt.  Spilling the beans on this somewhat controversial topic, one that no one ever wants to admit to doing, just might put me in the penalty box - to age...like a quilt! 

Some people may be temped to call the QAP plain ol' procrastination...but they would be SO wrong!  I do not believe in procrastinating...I believe in aging, except when it comes to me personally!  I believe in aging as it relates to things taking a while, running their course, not being in a hurry to be in a hurry!  And because I'm sure you'll want to know exactly what I'm talking about I want you to hurry on over to Sew We Quilt at Stash Manicure and read all about the aging process...and then, try it for yourself!  

But come back tomorrow because I'm going to share one more of my "Too Good To Share Recipes"...a Peanut Butter Chocolate Pie that will make your skirt fly up, knock your socks off and put your knickers in a twist!

I'm Giving Away a Quilt!...

 

To celebrate my good fortune of being a Guest Blogger once again over at Sew We Quilt/Stash Manicure, I have decided to give away my Picnic Quilt!

  

This vintage quilt was actually pieced from an antique quilt and newer fabrics.  I purchased it as a quilt top/flimsy and it was one of my very first quilts that I machine-stippled.  It has a bit of wear, but only because it was loved so much!  This quilt measures 58x58-inches and is as soft as a quilt can be!

The back of the quilt has blue and white ticking, and a label that reads: 

"I bought this quilt top in LaConner, WA while on a field trip with the Sew Whats.  It was pieced in 1998 from old fabrics.  I machine stippled in November 1999.  Nan Slaughter, Redmond, WA."

The quilt label was sewn on by hand so it can be removed, if you want.

  

It looks great tossed over the back of an old chair or an old chest - or hanging on a wall...it's a happy quilt that will bring a smile to your face, if you win, of course!

Now...here's what you do...Head on over to Sew We Quilt/Stash Manicure and leave me a comment and then come back and leave me a comment here TELLING me you left me one over there!  That's it!

No entries after 6:00 PST Sunday, March 27th, winner will be picked using Random Generator and announced Monday, March 28th.  Contest open to everyone...even those of you in the UK and Aussieland!  Just promise me if you win, you will give it a good home!

Galveston....Oh Galveston...

 

Folks, I would be sorely remiss if I didn't show you this little bit of paradise...the mister was in Houston, allegedly working...while I was slaving away at our booth at market (translation:  having the time of my life!) when we were invited to a friend's "camp" in Galveston.  They call it a camp, I'll just call it paradise.  Galveston was hit by hurricane Ike last year and there is still evidence of the destruction everywhere you look; the storm surge had the water 15 feet over the roads!!  Beautiful oak trees died from the salt water, homes blown off foundations and swept out to sea, and many lives lost...so, so sad...but our friends weekend get-a-way is 15 feet in the air and so it was safe...their boat was swept away along with all of their toys but the house survived.  The pic on the left above is their view off the deck - little islands before the Gulf of Mexico where they kayak...the middle pic is a zoomed in shot of houses across their "pond"...I loved the tropical colors they were painted...the pic on the right is their "camp"...so fun, so cute and cozy and we were made to feel right at home - which we took immediate advantage of!  It was great to get away from the chaos of market - and even with "Seattle weather" in Galveston, we had a great time.  Thanks Stephanie and Tony - now we owe you! (This offer will be null void if not acted upon in a timely manner, so come soon!) 

 The most wonderful booth in Houston is pictured above....I want you to go to Hatched and Patched and check out Annie's wonderful and creative designs - I ordered everything she makes and so did everyone else!  Annie and her husband are from Australia (what is it with all the Australians lately?  They are everywhere!!) and they were as cute as can be and, as the Aussie's say, Good Value!  Really, go and visit her site, it won't be as good as seeing everything in person but you'll come away totally inspired!  More about Houston later...right now I'm off to see Baby Max and I'm taking him to the pumpkin patch - could it get any better than that?!?  

Lots of Good News...

Today is the Marine Corps birthday - for 233 years the United States Marine Corps has defended our country and our allies...and still do so today.  The mister was a Marine...although, once a Marine, always a Marine...the corps taught him a lot of life lessons...and made him the man he is today.  He's been called a Jarhead, Devil Dog, and a Grunt...and much worse (usually by me) but today, no names.  I'm proud of him and his service to our country, during two tours of duty to Vietnam.  I'm also proud of my father's service in the Army during the Korean Conflict.   Tomorrow is Veteran's Day...if you know a Veteran, thank him or her...it's the least we can do.  So thanks to Dear Old Dad, thanks to the mister and thanks so Gunny Brown...3 of the finest military men on the planet. Semper Fi.  Ooorah!

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My oh my...I'm blushing!  Little Pots and Pins is featured today on one of the most fun and informative blogs in all of blogland!  Today's Creative Blog does just what the name implies...it features a creative blog just about every day.  I can't tell you how many times I've gone to Today's Creative Blog  to see who's the latest and greatest in crafts, sewing, cooking, etc.  And I'm never disappointed...so I was shocked to discover Pots and Pins made the grade!!   Shocked and surprised and tickled PINK! 

You'll want to save Today's Creative Blog to your favorites so you can check in to see who's making what ...it's a GREAT resource!   

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It looks like Pirate Booty!  I came home from an afternoon out and about with the mister...(he said he was sick of working and came home in the middle of the day...highly suspect!  The mister LIVES to work and he rarely comes home early let alone while the sun is still shining!  Something is afoot, of that I'm certain, so my attenae are already on the case...he is a man of routine and this is SO NOT routine!) 

But I'm off track...when I walked in the door I found all of this great stuff!!!  A friend used to have an on-line cake business...she no longer does so the photography equipment she purchased to take pictures of her cakes and all of her cake pans and racks she donated to her favorite charity...ME!  This is almost as good as Christmas!  I do believe a few bundt cakes will be in my future! 

That gallon jug is full of wonderful vanilla - that should last me a few weeks!  She also gave me some big white things to bounce light or block light...really I have no idea what they're for but I'm loving them!  Jennifer has obviously seen the pitiful pictures that I post on here and thinks that some professional equipment and lighting will help me take better shots...she's an optimist...and doesn't know that I only know what I know and am incapable of knowing more....But thanks anyway Jennifer - I'll have fun TRYING to take better pics!!! 

White on Rice Couple Video...

I came across this delicious blog a few months back - and I say delicious because everything from their pictures to their recipes to their videos...of which, in one, I am "mentioned"...is truly eye-popping great!  White On Rice Couple cooks and "dishes" and now they have videos....one of their first videos is about the making of tofu frites - this is the one where I am mentioned...to the sound of boos!  But it's all good - I hate tofu and made the mistake of telling them so...really, what is it about tofu that I'm missing here?  It jiggles....it wobbles...it's white and pasty and soft and mushy...wow - that sounds like I was describing myself!  No wonder I hate tofu!   

I can barely type the word tofu without wanting someone to say "God Bless You" afterwards!  But, tofu aside, I love their blog and their videos, so much so that I think I can forgive them for even thinking about making fries out of tofu - apparently they've never heard of McDonalds!  (Their dogs also have a blog...and while I can't say it's as good as my dog's blog, it does come close!  Well not really, but Caesar Beezer The Wonder Dog would surely take my arm off if I said otherwise!)  So check them out when you get a minute - they're great fun!   

Oh...while I didn't have the stomach to make their tofu frites...I did make their Rosemary Gold Coins - a wonderful potato dish - and it was fantastic. Hey White On Rice Couple!   It's PO-TAY-TOE or PO-TAW-TOE... but NO-PO-TO-FU!