How Does YOUR Garden Grow?

Got a late start to gardening this year (there's always something).  Despite all the delays and the scorching heat, my plants are doing well.

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Top to bottom: tomatillos, cucumbers on a teepee, thai hot peppers and heirloom tomatoes. 

 How is your garden growing? ~ksp

Cutting Up!

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go!, But before I can leave, I need to get my crafts flight-ready.

This meant, a lot of cutting....

...and fabric...

Me and the hexies are ready for the airport...goodbye Florida! ~ksp

Saved by Jo-Ann's Fabric

I would not consider myself a fabric/craft snob by any stretch.  While I have yet to incorporate thrift shopping into my crafts, I frequently check out what my local thrift stores have to offer.  I am, however, not partial to large chains.  I like my fabric stores, moderately-sized like here and here, where the staff use the products and know the craft.  I tend to not find that at the larger stores.

So imagine my surprise when I, desperate for a project but unable to travel the 45 minutes one way for the nearest to me quilt shop (that meets my criteria), begrudgingly went to the local Jo-Ann's Fabric.  I don't think I've ever been in a Jo-Ann's this big.  I mean huge-so huge, there is an independent sewing machine dealer inside of it.

I was desperate and I was satisfied.  I bought several items to get me started on what will be my next long-term quilting project.  It's a 1" hand-pieced hexagon quilt top...or at least it will be.  I have been following Texas Freckles blog with the very helpful videos and tips.

 I might not go insane on this family vacation/visit after all. 

I don't know how big the finished quilt will be, but I like the idea of piecing and then laying them out in a gradual color spectrum.  The only problem with that strategy is that you have to piece a whole heap-a-hexes in order to get the color layout right.  Let me get piecing and see how this goes.  ~ksp

It's That Time Again - the NJ State Fair

Faithful readers will know that I am a big proponent of state fairs.  In New Jersey there is a carnival in the Meadowlands Complex that calls itself the state fair.  I am NOT referring to that.

Instead, I am talking about a fair where residents (in this case statewide) compete in activities ranging from turkey calling to canned jams and jellies.  There's livestock and NJ 4-H...and on opening day, there's a decent fireworks display.

In short...its a blast!

I lurve the NJ state fair.

Every year about this time, I stalk the local farmer's market to find items that I can prepare and enter the fair.  I have had moderate success and have ribboned every year that I've entered items (knock on wood, don't wanna jinx it).  This year will be no different.  I have been busy in the test kitchen with my most recent batch of ingredients, including the mint previously discussed on this post.

If you don't live in NJ look for the county/state fair in your area. But, if you live in NJ, please check out the competition categories here and for the adventuresome and competitive among you, find the entry form here.

And prepared to get your a@# kicked by me at this year's fair. ~ksp

F#ck Cancer! - Team DM

My dearest friend DM has a Burkitt-like lymphoma and will spend the summer in treatment at St. Barnabus Medical Center.

I am very pleased and honored that he is allowing me to help him through these tough summer months. Not to do it alone, I enlisted the help of ChopChop and MadameFoo to help ease the imaging issues that cancer treatment can sometimes bring by knitting caps for him to wear.

This group of classy ladies put together a bunch of caps for him to wear. The drab colors are his request to accompany both his wardrobe and default mood.

I lovingly refer to the large and ever-growing list of people who offer his support, food, encouragement "Team DM". Lord knows this is a rough spot and its great to have folks there to help lighten the burden. We also decided that the team's slogan is "F#ck Cancer!". Its our attempt to put the lymphoma on notice that its days are numbered.

I eventually made him try all of the hats (to ensure good fit and to make him laugh). While it will be hard to wear in the summer months, he is often cold in the hospital so they'll come in handy.

A face anyone could love.