Wonky Log Cabin

OK, so I am rested up and ready to begin a new week. The long weekend was truly needed! Yesterday I washed clothes, sewed between loads and just had a very relaxing day!
I'm so glad I was able to enjoy a day at home because this week looks pretty busy already as I look over my calendar.

My oldest daughter and I are taking a cake decorating class together. What fun we are having! So much laughing I think the teacher thinks we are a bit crazy! Last week she was so busy that I ended up making both cakes and 3 batches of icing for our class on Saturday! WHew, I was tired before we got there. We've both learned so much from the class and look forward to each Saturday.
I hope to post some pictures of our cakes soon. We had such a mess and were in such a hurry I forgot to take pictures during class.

Now, I want to share a wonderful tutorial with you! I came across the neatest blog, Quilt Dad, and love his tutorial on Wonky Log Cabin Blocks! I actually learned how to make these blocks a few months ago and have some blocks that are just waiting to be made into something useful. I think I love these blocks so much because they are so improvisational! OOOOHHHH, what a big word! Yeah, they are easy as pie! I really like working outside the lines, go against the grain, etc. That would be what makes these little cuties so fun! Take a look at his very visual step-by-step tutorial.

Enjoy Your Day!

Looking for fall

Oh my goodness, I can't believe the month of August is almost gone!!
We are back to doing school here and staying extremely busy.
Lots of planning for lessons, field trips, support group meetings, and more.
We hate to see summer end but are looking forward to the beautiful fall weather and gorgeous scenery around these mountains. I love FALL!! I love the turning of the leaves, drinking my coffee on the back porch on cool mornings, camping, and taking pictures of God's amazing creation right here in my back yard.
Now that we are staying in a bit more with school started I hope to post more pictures soon!!
I have been trying to finish some of my many sewing projects I have started.
The garden is gone and so we will be looking for a few pumpkins or cantalope soon.
Wishing you a great weekend!

Peach Tart Recipe

We love fresh peaches and since we've been out of town I haven't made any desserts , so today, this is what I'm making.

Peach Tart

Ingredients
Crust:
*1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
*1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
*2 tablespoons sour cream

Filling:
*about 6 medium peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
*3 large egg yolks
*3/4 cup sour cream
*3/4 cup sugar
*1/4 cup all-purpose flour

Glaze:
*1/2 cup peach preserves or jelly
*1 tablespoon frozen orange juice concentrate
*mint for garnish

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

To make the crust:
Place the flour, butter, and sour cream in food processor and pulse to combine. When the dough has formed a ball, pat with lightly floured hands into the bottom and sides of an ungreased 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and 1/2-inch sides, or a round au gratin dish. Bake for about 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Let cool while preparing the filling.

To make the filling:
If using fresh peaches, peel and slice thickly. Arrange the fresh peach slices in overlapping circles on to of the crust, until it's completely covered. Overfill the crist, as peaches will shrink during cooking.
Combine the egg yolks, sour cream, sugar, and flour and beat until smooth. Pour the mixture over the peaches. Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 hour, until the crust sets and is pale golden in color. Cover with an aluminum foil tent if the crust gets too dark. Transfer the tart pan to a wire rack to cool. When cool, remove the side wall of the pan.

To make the glaze:
Combine the preserves or jelly and orange juice. Spread with pastry brush over the top of the warm tart. Serve the tart warm, at room temperature, or chilled. Garnish with fresh mint.

Mission Trip Pictures

We are home from our youth mission trip and very happy to have shared this week with special friends! We worked with Team Effort in fixing up a home for an elderly man who has cancer.
This week we worked hard as we hung sheet rock, made a walkway with stepping stones, stained steps, built a shed, adding wood siding to this, and much more little jobs. We also prayed together, cried and laughed together, and made some special friends. Praise God for an awesome week!!

Sue Nickels Quilt Class

With so much going on around our house I hadn't posted about how excited I was to be taking a quilting class this weekend. Well, the class was so much fun and better than I had anticipated. We learned SO much about machine applique and quilting in general, that my brain hurts after such a long day! LOL!
I have some great pictures of our class and some of the quilts that our teacher, Sue Nickels made and displayed, but I waited too long to get pictures of all the other quilts displayed! There was just so much going on I didn't get around to it.
First, I just want to say that Sue Nickels is an awesome teacher and such a sweet person. If you ever get the chance to meet her or take one of her classes, please don't hesitate, she's fantastic!! Ok, now for some pictures to share with you.

This is the center block from the quilt, Morning Has Broken
The block we practiced our reverse applique

More gorgeous quilts

The detail quilting on this quilt doesn't show
up in my pictures, it is very small stippling stitches
done on her home sewing machine, just awesome!

Picture taken with Sue on the left, my friend Sarah
in the middle, and me.....with the quilt, Morning Has Broken,
in the background.


Here are a few projects I've been working on lately

Canning Queen

Fresh Peas from the garden. They are so sweet!

We have busy canning green beans this week. This is our first year to use
a pressure canner and it's been so much fun!
Just call me the "Canning Queen."
We canned twenty-one quarts just today!

We are looking forward to putting corn
in the freezer soon!

Congratulations to Jenna as she has just opened her
new Etsy shop! Take a look at her blog, Mustard Seeds.
Oh, her handmade items are so cute! Bags, dresses, and more.

Also, my friend Randi at i have to say...... has some gorgeous new fabric in her shop!
The bright colors are perfect for summer!
When things slow down a bit I would love to order
one of the beautiful quilt patterns!

Have a great weekend!

Cold-Brewed Ice Coffee

Yeah, I came across a great recipe for Iced Coffee, yummy!
Love this stuff in the summer!!

So easy......

Ingredients:
1/3 c. ground coffee (medium coarse grind)
Milk
Water

1. In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 cups water, cover and let rest at room temperature overnight or 12 hours.

2. Strain twice through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve, or a sieve lined with cheesecloth. In a tall glass fill with ice, mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water. Add milk.

Enjoy! Have a great July 4th!!