Dogs and Cats

Yesterday was a grocery shopping day, which limited my time in the sewing room. Even so, I was able to finish the muzzle on Scooter's pawtrait. Here's the image I'm working from:

Here's fabric Scooter:

Of course, these always look more realistic when I'm able to fill in with top-stitching. For Scooter, stitching in the line for the mouth will make a big difference. For this pawtrait, I'm needing to include the window and trim from the car window since Scooter is hidden just slightly by those elements in the photograph. These are fun projects to work on, and completely engrossing. Today I'm hoping to get a start on the ears.

Yesterday, I was thrilled when my cousin's wife Janice, asked me to make a baby quilt for a new baby girl expected in their family in October. You might remember when Sam and Janice came for a visit a few weeks ago. My first sewing task was to look through the many baby quilt patterns I've stockpiled and find one appropriate for a girl. Their only request was to use a "scant" amount of pink.

So here's the pattern I came up with, called Baby Birds. It's a free download from Studio E Fabrics.

I have no idea when I downloaded this pattern originally, but it's been years, at least. Of course, the pattern was originally designed to showcase their fabrics...long gone by now. No problem, because I have plenty of fabric in my stash, mainly from scraps, that I can put to use making a cute version of this quilt, with almost no pink at all. Here's what I pulled from my stash, and this is where I'll start.

There are a few alternatives set aside as well if any of these won't play well with the others. I'm hoping to get started on this soon, and it'll be a good project for June's

Okay, so quite a few of you have expressed ongoing interest in what's going on with the CSA veggies. So, here goes. Remember: you asked for it. Cauliflower and broccoli are well represented in the most recent shares. Cauliflower just happens to be one of the ingredients in my favorite open-faced sandwich of all time, and so I used about half a head in last night's dinner, these Swiss Cheese Veggie Sandwiches. Something about this combination of flavors is very pleasing to the palate.

I've already linked to the recipe for the Melt-In-Your-Mouth Kale salad there on the side, but if you missed it, here's the link to the post from the Food Babe. I actually like kale in all its forms, but Mike is less fond of it. As for this salad, Mikey likes it! 

But to get back to the sandwiches, you can easily grate one carrot, then thinly slice some cauliflowerets, mix that all up with some grated Swiss, chopped tomato, and some dill. Usually, I use dried dill, but there was a nice portion of fresh dill in this week's share, so I used about a teaspoon of that. You toast the English muffin, pile on the filling, then put it in the microwave for about a minute to melt the cheese. Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm. The recipe is from Betty Crocker's Microwave Cookbook, published during the Dark Ages in 1981 when microwaves were a relatively new invention. 

Having been born during the 14th Century, I actually remember a world without microwaves. Shocking, isn't it? And since this book is ancient and written in cuneiform, I don't think Betty will mind if I give you the recipe. Here you go:

Swiss Cheese-Veggie Sandwiches

Source: Betty Crocker's Microwave Cookbook

1 Cup Shredded Swiss Cheese -- (about 4 oz.)

1 Cup Shredded Carrots or Zucchini -- (about 1 small) 

1/2 Cup Chopped Tomato -- (about 1 medium)

1/2 Cup Thinly Sliced Small Cauliflowerets

2 Tablespoons  Mayonnaise

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Dried Dill 

3 English Muffins -- cut into halves and toasted

Mix cheese, carrots (or zucchini), tomato, cauliflower, mayonnaise, salt and dill; spread evenly over toasted muffin halves. Arrange on microwave rack. Microwave uncovered on high (100%) until hot and bubbly, about 1 minute.

They're super quick to make, and so delicious.

As for the rest of the household, Smitty is having a rough time of it. His world has been turned upside-down since Sadie the Interlopurr showed up on the scene. But I'll let him tell you in his own words.

Like I said, my furriends, the news is not good at all. This is purrhaps the rudest cat I've ever met. She lies in the hallway, blocking access to the stairs, and generally lounges in all the places that are reserved for me, Smitty, including my Mom's lap.

She hangs around the treat bowl waiting for treats. Then, she eats her treats,

and noses me out of mine. 

But worst of all, she even goes up into my He-Man Woman Hater's Clubhouse. Maybe she can't read the "Girl Cats Keep Out" sign at the furront door, but it doesn't matter the reason. There she is, and I am powerless to purrvent this intrusion into my purrivacy.

Despite his wailing and moaning about this, they have been having fun playing. While I was in the sewing room yesterday, they played together for about half an hour. Sadie happens to be a pretty smart little kitty, and she figured out how to get into Smitty's clubhouse with no problem at all. She's tiny, however, and so getting down was a bit of a trick. She figured it out on her own, and so now, she's redecorating. It needed a woman's touch anyway. She's considering wallpaper and some new light fixtures.

Today I'm getting my monthly pedicure, and then it's back to the sewing room for me. Oh, and I suppose I might find time for a little housework.