Tuesday, July 11, 2017

Mid July

I really didn't plan on being away for two weeks.  Life just seems to have something new and exciting every day.  I feel out of the loop as I have been off of the computer much of the time as we entertained company, celebrated the 4th of July and started the busy season of canning.  Two peach trees are done and one to go.

As I mentioned in my last post, I was the recipient of the June blocks for the Gridster Bee.  They have all come in and I just love the way this is coming together.   I'll add a few more Confetti Stars and get this put together shortly.




Meanwhile, as we move on to the next month's Gridster Bee blocks I completed my August block for Debbie - IG littlebirdquilts.  I have seen this quilt popping up on the different blogs and think Debbie's bright colors will look so nice.


Our July 4th party was loads of fun.  I always feel so blessed that the children have been able to grow up together.  Their cousins are their best friends and they always have someone to join them in whatever they do.

Pre sparkler instructions.

Serious yearly Corn Hole tournament.


They just look mischievous with those water balloons.

Master chef!

For Father's Day the kids gave their dad a Sous Vide immersion cooker.  We finally had a chance to try it out over the weekend and loved it.  We did a pork loin on Saturday night that was so moist and tasty.  Sunday we did a steak and it was also fantastic.  It is an interesting concept in cooking as the meat and herbs are cooked in a sealed bag and placed into warmed water (thus the ping pong balls to reduce water evaporation).  It is then finished off by searing a few seconds in a hot skillet.  It is great for timing the meal to be done at a certain time.  We were both very impressed and will be using this often.



I recently was selected as a winner of this beautiful Mulberry Lane jelly roll from Cherry Blossoms Quilting.  I just love the colors in these fabrics and look forward to making a quilt with it.  I have followed Cherry for many years and love her creative pieces.  One of my favorite quilts that I hang each year is a pattern of hers - the Feathered Christmas.




Tomorrow the girls and I start the pickles.  I'm looking forward to the fun.




29 comments:

  1. Love your bright stars. That's one block I love when other make, but I don't care to make it. Something always goes wrong even if it's paper pieced. Fun with the family is always treasured. Enjoy.

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  2. I must agree that the summer has been busy! I love you bee blocks-confetti stars. They will make a cheerful quilt!

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  3. You have a beautiful family, Mary...and lovely quilts!

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  4. So nice to have all the family around! Love those stars, Mary.

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  5. Your family get-togethers always look like such a hoot! Beautiful photos of all the grands, and your countryside is gorgeous as well. We are finally seeing the first of the blueberries ripening. There may not be much else this year with all the cool wet weather we've had but time will tell.

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  6. I can see why you don't have time to blog! Live life and enjoy the family whenever you can.

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  7. Your confetti starts are lovely. How cool to have the family nearby and them to be so friendly. I just don't understand why you don't have time on the computer with canning, and holidays in there.

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  8. My oldest son got a Sous Vide immersion cooker for Christmas 2016 from his wife, and they use it constantly! My boys are big meat grillers and smokers, so anything that adds to the tenderness thrills them :) I love the ping pong colors, and think it would work for a quilt lol.
    You are blessed to have a big family all close by, and I think it's wonderful that you put them first. I can feel the love in the photos!
    Your August block is great, and the confetti stars are gorgeous, I can't wait to see everything put together. Congrats on your Jelly Roll win!
    Hugs

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  9. I did notice your absence from blog world and was pretty sure you were all wrapped up with that beautiful family. My siblings and my own children are all close to their cousins, as well, and manage to make extra time besides Christmas and 4th of July to spend time together. We are blessed. Am looking forward to seeing more of your finishes.....congratulations on some great wins!

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  10. Looks like a lot of really fun times with your family. What could be better :-) Happy Canning!

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  11. Love your Confetti Stars, will be a lovely quilt.
    Great block for Debbie too.
    What a fantastic fun filled 4th July. All the children are all growing up sew fast..
    I'm sure you will have a great time doing the pickling...

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  12. All those wonderful stars look great together. Looks like you had a great 4th. Have fun making pickles!

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  13. Looks like you had a blast and ate well....grin. Love your blocks.

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  14. Another wonderful family gathering...I love those smiling faces.

    The immersion cooker sounds very interesting, I amused by the ping pong balls.

    Congratulations on your win.

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  15. Oh, my, but you do have so many wonderful and fun things going on. I adore those star blocks. It will make such a fantastic finish for when it's done. It must be so much fun to have so many people to celebrate with. We have a large extended family around us, so we enjoy those types of get-togethers, too. For some reason, now I have a craving for pickles. --Andrea

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  16. Wow, of course family comes before blogging you are so right, we'll wait til you "get back" :) Wonderful photos of all your family fun and your stars are just glowing beauties!!

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  17. It sure looks like fun at your house! Your star quilt is going to really sparkle and shine. Such fun stars!

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  18. Summer is happening at a faster than normal pace it seems. I love seeing your wonderful family all together and enjoying family time and fun. Beautiful Americana right there in your July 4th gathering. Lots of happy fabrics with the stars, block and jelly roll. Pickling looks like it has interesting ingredients. Enjoying your time is beyond Priceless...<3

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  19. You are such a busy little bee. Your family gathering looks like it was soooo much fun!

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  20. What a lovely family gathering, and those blue skies just make the picture complete. I do like the stars. That will be a great quilt. Enjoy the pickling.

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  21. What a beautiful prize, Mary. Lucky girl ;)

    Your lovely stars looking great together. It will be beautiful quilt !!!

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  22. I love those star blocks and it will be a fabulous quilt. You family gathering looks so much fun.

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  23. That is such a happy collection of stars, Mary! The block you made for Debbie looks wonderful. Looks like everyone had a great time at the 4th of July celebration. Love the happy faces. That is such a lovely present the kids gave to their dad! Thanks so much for sharing the information. Might have to look into it. Have fun with the girls canning and pickling :)

    -Soma

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  24. The stars are so beautiful and will make a sweet quilt. I've never heard of an immersion cooker but it sounds like fun. Your family gathering looks like a blast!

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  25. I saw your stars and am toying with the idea of doing a star themed temperature quilt for my adult son. I thought maybe the center of the star could be the low and the legs of the star the high and the background could be consistent unless a new record was made and then it could change to one color if new high, a different if new low, and yet another if both. Just thinking. He does have a CA king bed and loves outdoors. He is an Eagle Scout. He loves taking his 11 year old son and 4 year old daughter to the creek close to our house. Thought it might be a nice surprise sometime when I get started and then a year plus later. Love seeing all the projects and the flowdies (flowers).

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  26. I really like your stars too. Your celebrations look like all had fun.

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  27. Love those star blocks.. what a great quilt that will be!!
    Enjoy canning season!!

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  28. Mary, you amaze me with all of life's blessing you create and enjoy. This is the first year my peach has any fruit. I think it has 8-10 for its bounty. When I have a larger production I'll be checking with you about canning them.
    Enjoy Pickling and July.

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  29. You are amazing. The 4th July cookout looks like great fun, and I love seeing all the grandchildren!

    But I also love seeing all the confetti star blocks come together--wowie, but they look great!

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