Summer Pasttimes

Hope you had a good 4th of July! Kind of throws everything off when it's in the middle of the week, though. I was going to take Thursday off from work but had too much to do. Also, the weather is just too hot and I would have spent most of the day indoors anyway. If we had a beach nearby it would be fun to spend the day there, but I'm really not one to hang out by the pool. It's a good time to rent movies and do some stitching on this fun runner from a Maggie Bononomi design.

Early in the morning I do get out and take a long walk around the neighborhood. I missed my walks so much when I was recuperating from my knee injury!

I go through a little park that is bordered by a strip of woods and a creek. Several times I've seen a fox heading back to its home in these woods.

Lots of rabbits around, even next to the fox's home!

The creek has been here for years and I know the cool water must have been such a blessing to a farm family many years ago.

Most of the scenery on my walk consists of suburban gardens.

 

 

 Thanks for joining me on my walk! I hope we can do this again.

Italian Appetizer

Summer is flying by! I'm seeing that on a lot of blogs and certainly feel the same way. My blog reading and posting has been rather spotty for the past month but I want to share a great recipe with you in case you're going to a 4th of July get-together and need to bring something easy and yummy.

I made these for a party last weekend and they were well received! I got this recipe at a recent cooking class I attended taught by Brenda Nolte and adapted it slightly to use things I already had on hand. It can also be cut into larger pieces and served as a dinner entree.

Italian Appetizer

2 (8 ounce) packages refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

8 oz sliced hard salami

8 oz sliced roasted turkey

8 oz sliced provolone cheese

6 eggs

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I used the pre-grated kind in the shaker container)

2 (6 ounce) jars roasted red peppers, drained 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Spray 11" X 13" pan with cooking spray. Spread one package of crescent rolls on bottom of pan, pressing seams together to seal. Layer half of salami, turkey and  provolone cheese. Mix the eggs and Parmesan cheese together. Spread a little less than half over the first layer. Top iwith half of the red peppers. Add second layer of meat and provolone; top with peppers and pour all but about 3 tablespoons of the egg mixture over it.  Top with the second package of Crescent rolls, sealing the seams. Brush the remaining egg mixture on the top of the rolls so you'll get a nice, brown crust when you bake.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30". Uncover and bake another 30" or until nicely browned.

Let sit for about 60" to firm up before cutting into 30 squares. 

I'm joining:
Mix it Up Monday

Primitives of the Midwest

Well, yes I am still around and kicking. Sometimes the week just gets away! Last weekend I had the opportunity to meet up with dear friends to see the play Billy Elliot and do a little shopping in beautiful Des Moines, Iowa.

Downtown Des Moines

Last week found me stitching away at Primitives of the Midwest, sponsored by Quilter's Station in Lee's Summit, MO.

Homework for Stacy's Class

Stacy Nash was back again this year and showed us how to make a lovely sewing box with pincushion.

She brought projects along that will be photographed for her first book which will be out this fall!

Shawn Williams from Threads that Bind showed us her wool applique technique as we made this very cute little mat. I was very excited to see the kit already had the pennies that edge the piece already cut out! 

She had the most adorable glasses case and the instructions for making this can be found on her blog.

Maggie Bononomi demonstrated her tendril technique in this this "Warm & Spicy" mat. You know you've arrived when Maggie mentions you in class; she noted that very talented fellow blogger Patty G. from Winding Vine Wanderings will change up Maggie's designs by doing them in her own colors.

Lynda's Advent Quilt

Lynda Hall was back again with some great designs but I couldn't figure out how to be in two classes as once, darn. For photos and descriptions of all the projects, click here. Many if not most of these will be offered in pattern form by the designer in the near future. It was a fun and inspiring few days and if you have the opportunity I hope you can attend next year!

Garden Tour

I love visiting beautiful gardens! Everyone is unique and it's just interesting to see the different twist everyone puts on plantings and garden art.

This charming bungalow was the first stop on the tour.

The small backyard was too shady to grow grass so they created three seating areas:

Interesting displays of antiques and found objects

 Something beautiful in every corner of the yard

Boxwood added structure in many of the gardens on the tour.

 The next stop was a historic mansion just south of downtown KC.

Multicolored coleus marched along the driveway to the carriage house.

 

My favorite urn.

The tour continued a few blocks away at a Dutch colonial  that was built in 1924

Several birdbaths were sprinkled around the yard, include two square ones.

 They said they didn't do anything special to get this beautiful blue color on the hydrangea.

 Final stop was in the suburbs at a much newer home.

 Brick path had a variety of mill stones for added interest.

 Birdbath tucked along the path.

 Caladium again! I love it with the purple and emerald green leaves.

 

 

 Happy gardening!

Weekend Work

Getting close to finishing the first project in the Prim Sisters club!

Design by Pineberry Lane

Which is good because I've already received the second project and I think the third is on its way--eek!

Finished planting almost everything I'm going to plant in the garden. I'm taking the lazy route--gourds, cucs, and squash for the most part so I won't have a lot of daily picking to do at the height of summer. Love to see how quickly these little plants are growing.

The gangly butterfly bush on the edge of our property is thriving. One of our local nurseries had all their plants reduced 40% so I filled in the foreground with white nicotiana and a couple of shrimp plants, a new plant for me, but hopefully one that the butterflies will find appealing.