8/14/13

Tuesday and Wednesday

It's been a busy 24 hours or so.  Yesterday evening, we met up with Matthew to visit the Hillsboro Farmer's Market.  The market turned out to be a combination "everything" market with lots of food, music, crafts, baked goods, wine, berries, and vegetables.  It's not as large as the Portland Farmer's Market, but it was every bit as enjoyable.

When we leave our hill to go down into the valley, the temperature warms by about ten degrees.  It was quite warm for late in the day, and the kids from the neighborhood were having great fun playing in the fountain near city hall.


We were glad to duck down this side street shaded by buildings.


We were lucky enough to meet Matthew's new sweety, Laura.  And let me tell you, this girl's a keeper.  We liked her very much.  



They look good together, don't you think?

We had dinner of Thai food there on the street where the main part of the market was.  I bought some vegetables, Matthew bought some kale and berries, and then we headed for home.

This morning, I spent some time quilting before taking off for my monthly pedicure.  Gracie took some time for a little ole' roll in the catnip.


I've quilted the middle bird panels now and one row of the flying geese blocks.  I'm pretty happy with how this is turning out.



And I'm glad I was brave enough to go with that red thread.  Here's how it looks from the back...a little like blood vessels, I'm afraid, but I still like it.


Here's a more direct overhead shot.


Smitty gives his approval.


He and I went down to the sewing room this evening so that I could make up the stitcheries for the next section of the Gardner's Journal quilt.  It's been a while since I made any progress on this one.  The next two stitcheries are the vegetable garden (seems appropriate, no?),


and "pulling the weeds".  Cute.


I wanted to get these made up so that I'd have some hand work to take along on our weekend outing.  I'm back to tracing since I didn't want to switch methods of transferring these designs half way through the quilt. It probably won't make any difference how I do it, but I don't want to take a chance.

This afternoon, I made up some potato salad for our dinner Friday night.  Tomorrow, I'm starting some pulled chicken in the crockpot.  I'll prepare that tomorrow, and then just warm it up for dinner on Friday.  I was going to make a watermelon salad, but then decided just to cut the melon into wedges.  It's an outdoor dinner, and so I figure watermelon wedges are good enough.  I'm also making a 7-Layer dip that is always a crowd pleaser, and some chocolate chunk, cherry, and pecan cookies...the cookie to end all other cookies. Also on tomorrow's agenda is to make up a double batch of pasta sauce.  I have a pile of tomatoes that need processing.  I needed 8 pounds for a double batch (to yield 4 quarts of pasta sauce).  I had a little over 6 pounds, and so I'm supplementing with some tomatoes I got at the farmer's market last night.

Aside from that, I don't have a thing to do tomorrow!  Except drive into town to get my hair trimmed.  Bad scheduling on my part, but there you go.  I can relax this weekend.  How did your day go?



16 comments:

Junebug613 said...

Laura is a lovely girl. That was my Grandmother's name and my best friend's name too. I really like the red thread. Just reading about all of your "to do's" makes me tired.

Tami C said...

I really like the red thread and how it flowed across your flying geese! Laura is lovely. My mother's name was Laura. I like your "pulling the weeds" stitchery! I'm sure that is going to really look cute! Hope you have fun on your weekend outing!

quiltzyx said...

Welcome to the blog Laura! She & Matthew do make a cute couple. :)
I do love fountains & the "ground fountains" always make me smile.

Yay for stepping out of your comfort zone & using the red thread for quilting - it's looking mighty fine.

The second of your embroidery panels reminds me of a book I used to have called "Don't Bend Over in the Garden, Granny, You Know Them Taters Got Eyes" by Lewis Grizzard. LOL

Mmmmmm, potato salad does sound good right now - it was in the mid-90s today. I wonder if I can figure out how to make a SMALL amount of it. :D

Lyndsey said...

I love the red thread and I think the quilting on the flying geese looks like grasses that the birds might hide among. The colours in the quilt are fabulous and the red thread is the icing on the cake.

Laura looks a sweety and they d make a very good looking couple.

I love the 'pulling the weeds' stitchery. I can remember many times not being able to find my mother and eventually tracking her down as she attacked the weeds in one of the flower beds.

Debbie said...

I think you were so right about using the red thread....it looks fabulous. Out of your comfort zone proved to be a good thing here!

Sherry said...

Great choice on thread, the quilt is going to be lovely. So nice Matthew has found such a lovely young lady. I wonder if she likes quilts? Your menu sounds wonderful. But its 6:45am and I am hungry for those delightful sounding cookies. That would constitute as a healthy breakfast wouldn't it? Have a great weekend.

Dana Gaffney said...

Did Matthew put the meet up together so you all could meet Laura? Interesting, and I know exactly where your mind is.
I'm loving the red thread and design more and more, it looks great.

Patricia said...

The red thread looks great. You have a good time with your friends this weekend.

Quilting Babcia said...

The red thread for your quilting is perfect, and so is your quilting design. I love it when designs can be quilted without marking! Yep, she definitely looks like a keeper. Maybe a future quilting student for you?

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Lovely couple. I have yet to make a farmer's market - but my Bro and SIL hit one every weekend in their travels and bring me something. Your quilt is coming just beautifully. And glad to see that Gracie gets to enjoy that spot with the nip.

WoolenSails said...

Never tell your kids that you like their girl or boy friends, guaranteed they will change their minds, lol. Love the new stitcheries, those will be fun to do.

Debbie

AmandaK@whatthebobbin said...

That quilting is fabulous and Smitty is cute!

Queenie Believe said...

Beautiful quilting!
Have a great day.
Always, Queenie

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Beautiful Laura, welcome to Three Cats; Barb's a great host. The food is delectable, the kitties warm and the quilting inimitable.

Love the red thread and your FMQ is getting so consistent-blood vessels: you're funny-it looks like tree roots from where I sit and I love anything to do with trees so it wins in my book. It is a lovely quilt altogether and the quilting is accentuating that quality workmanship.

Diane Wild said...

That quilt is coming along beautifully. Glad you used the red thread. You may have to rename the quilt "Raveled Arteries". LOL Seriously, it looks great. And so does Matthews main squeeze.

Kate said...

The quilting looks great. Looks like a fun farmers market and a great night out.