Just an apology to all who left me such sweet comments the last few days ~ I am going to respond personally, but with two transcriptionists out this week, I've been very very busy, too busy to even stitch. Then add in to the mix this little precious thing...

We found this sweet thing outside a friends house hiding in the gardenias.  I estimate he's about 4 weeks old.  Absolutely COVERED in fleas!!  I brought him home because my friend is not a "cat person", but I don't know what I'm going to do with him.  My two labs think he's the next best thing to a running squirrel and I don't dare let them near him.  Any suggestions on how to keep the dogs from eating the new kitty?

Awesome Recipe ~ Carabba's Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu

Made an awesome pasta dish last night and wanted to share. It's from my favorite Italian restaurant, Carrabba's. I've made it several times and we love it ~ so easy & fresh.  I had wanted to include a picture, but totally forgot to take it ~ we were really hungry!  However, here's a pic I found online just to share ~

Carabba's Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu

Servings:  4

16 oz. angel hair pasta
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 large cloves garlic, sliced (I used minced from jar - lots!)
16 ripe Roma tomatoes, diced (I buy the big pack from Sam's, but this is a good way to use all those tomatoes from your garden)
16 -20 basil leaves, roughly chopped
Pinch salt and pepper
Lots of shredded fresh Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions (do not overcook ~ you want it al dente).  Meanwhile, simmer sliced garlic in olive oil over very low heat for about 10 minutes (I also add some red pepper flakes for a little bit of kick at this time so it infuses into the oil).  Add remaining ingredients and stir over medium heat another 2 minutes or so.  Toss with cooked angel hair pasta and serve as a side dish for chicken or shrimp.  Also makes a vegetarian entree.  Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese ~ Yum!

Baby Quilt Update & Baby Shower!

Warning:  Picture heavy post!

Christa & Michael's baby shower yesterday was absolutely wonderful!  Several games were played (of course), but the funniest and grossest was the poopy diaper!  Using one's sense of sight and smell, you have to guess which candy bar is melted in each diaper (there are four diapers passed around)! We could only hope really poopy diapers smelled like candy bars....

This adorable cake was made by the hostess's stepmother ~















These are two "heirlooms" that I passed to Christa...the blanket was crocheted by me when I was pregnant with Christa and the dress/gown was smocked by Christa's aunt.

My DH took this picture of me when I was crocheting the blanket over 24 years ago (sitting next to my dear late Grandpa Dickson).  Check out the purple eyeshadow!!

Next is a little cross stitch I made a few years ago which was stored in my "Drawer of Shame" (a drawer containing completed cross stitch pieces which have never been finished, the contents of which will be shamefully displayed later).  I'm going to make this into a little hanging pillow.  This is a Shepherd's Bush pattern stitched on 10 ct. cream Tula using the recommended floss (WDW, CC, and GAST) and buttons ~ too cute!!!  BTW, this pattern is for sale on my selling page!

I made a diaper stacker for Christa.  I got the tutorial on Sew Dang Cute!  My applique was a little off ~ oh, well!



















The fabric for the dust ruffle is the same green above.  And here is the finished quilt top.  I only need to make my quilt sandwich and actually quilt it.  This is the hardest part because I "don't" quilt well at all.  I had thought about doing diagonal lines, but would really like to try something new.  Maybe quilt each pinwheel with a large flower using a tracing paper template to sew over?  Of course, doing the meandering stitch would be my preference, but I'm too chicken right now to try ~ no practice at all!

Oh, well ~ enough show & tell for now.  Hoping each of you had a wonderful, cool weekend!

~Progress on Baby Quilt~

Well, my ABC fabric finally came in (the right color) and I spent a very nice evening, just me, my sewing machine, and Law & Order SVU.  I was going to watch some NCIS, but I know I would have gotten distracted gazing at Very Special Agent Jethro Gibbs (sigh!).  I got all 12 blocks made ~ yippee!  I did have one block that just wouldn't come together ~ I lost count of the number of times I took it apart and resewed it.  But finally I'm happy with all my points.  Yes, some aren't quite perfect, but close enough!  Here's the layout ~

Now, to sew these together and start my borders!!!

Eye Candy

Head over to Dip Diddly Designs for some seriously yummy quilty eye candy!!!  I drooled all over my keyboard!  Where are stores like this in my neck of the woods?

Just a little rant....

I don't know about anybody else, but I was raised that when you're invited to an event and an RSVP is requested, you RSVP!!!  Why don't people do this anymore?  Are people just too darn busy to pick up the phone or respond to an EVITE?  Holy hand grenades, you're already on the darn computer, just click already!

My DD's baby shower is this Saturday.  EVITES to save the date went out 6 weeks ago.  Handwritten invitations went out 2 1/2 weeks ago ~ 60 people invited.  19 people have responded (9 yes, 7 no, 3 maybe) ~ out of 60.  How the heck are we supposed to know how much food to prepare for?


This is one of my all-time pet peeves ~ have we raised a whole generation of rude people?  Grrrrrrr!!!

Great Father's Day Key Chain Tutorial

Found this great tutorial to make a key chain for that special dad!  Go visit AlyAshCreations to see how it's made!!