Good Food on Good Friday

Good morning, my friends. We're pretty happy about our weekend weather...although the weekend has nothing to do with it when you're retired. Every day is Saturday. In any case, we're gearing up for the warmest weather so far this year...into the 70's today and tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll be able to eat outside for the first time.

Yesterday was another busy day, and it ended with a wonderful family dinner. Before I did anything else, I spent a little time on my slow stitching. This is Tiny Treasure #38. It has stem stitch, backstitch and straight stitch.

And then I went to work setting the table. With Easter so close, I was motivated to create an Easter table.

There were a few other things to do, but I managed to fit in some quilting in the afternoon. Smitty positioned himself in his usual spot, gazing out the window on the lookout for any invading forces. None yesterday, thankfully.

Yesterday's row contained three panel blocks. I outlined these little people.

And the clothes hanging on the line.

Here, I outlined the buildings.

There were two pieced blocks. This one is the Dutchman's Puzzle. I did it in my usual go-to motif when I'm quilting flying geese.

Remembering what I said yesterday about how the block above is made up of four sections of two flying geese. And the block below is pieced together the same way...four sections of two flying geese. And yet, look how different they are with a different arrangement of color. 

And finally, this one. I'm not as happy with the quilting on this one. I'm thinking it will look better when the quilt has been washed. On the other hand, if it bothers me enough, I might take it out and redo it. I haven't decided yet.

And that completed the 2nd of five rows. I left it needle down, and I'll start here today.

There was a little free time in the afternoon. I walked around the house to check on things. I'm happy to see the Bleeding Heart forming buds.

There are more grape hyacinths.

The rhododendrons are forming fat buds. They'll be the stars of the garden soon.

There are a few tulips forming buds. We'll see tulips soon if the deer don't eat them first.

Also, I've been meaning to show you this tree. This was our Christmas tree back in 2018. 

We don't put up a tree any more, but sometimes I'll find some potted thing that captures my heart. This was one of those. I'd seen it sitting outside a grocery store. The first time, I didn't buy it, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. When I saw it again at the same store a few days later, I decided to buy it. (When something sticks in my mind like that, I usually regret not acting on it.) When I had it home, we decorated it. It looks like a tree you might see in a Dr. Seuss book...maybe in Cindy Lou Who's house. It's a Blue Pyramid Cypress.

It started out about three feet tall. Now, if I stand beside it, it towers over my head. 

Like Linus said in A Charlie Brown Christmas, "I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."

And speaking of love...Matthew really got into the swing of things when we bruleed the creme brulee. It was great fun. 

Mae added a little more flame to hers. We figured out that the amount of "burn" one likes is directly associated with how one likes one's marshmallows toasted. I like mine sort of tan-ish. Mae likes hers burned.

So that was a good day...busy, and a lot of fun.

Today I'm going to take it easy. I'll get some more quilting done, and I'm hoping to get a little more sewing done in the sewing room. I'm looking at catching up on the two Inverted Star blocks I need for my Rainbow Scrap project. Right now, though, I need some breakfast, and then I'll get on with my day.