Scrappiness=Happiness

I've been working on another scrap quilt and have concluded that
Scrappiness=Happiness
W. Beran Wolfe wrote "If you observe a really happy man you will find him building a boat, writing a symphony, educating his son, growing double dahlias in his garden. He will not be searching for happiness as if it were a collar button that has rolled under the radiator."
And I would add working on a quilt to the inner list!

80 blocks completed.

I always expect that when I start another scrap quilt my pile of fabrics will greatly diminish in size.
Not so.
Sometimes it feels like the Savior's Miracle where he fed 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes.
After all is satisfied (with the needed fabrics to make the quilt) I gather up my remaining baskets of fabrics and they appear full.
There must be something to be learned from all of this.
Hmmm...maybe I should go back to the Bible dictionary and look up Gluttony.

Crocheted Coin Purses

Look at these wonderful little crocheted coin purses made by Marlene Rodriques of Pontinhosmeus.

Didn't she do a fabulous job!
I love every single one of them.

These little vintage purses are available on Marlene's Etsy Shop.

I love coin purses and as a new crocheter would like to learn how to make these.

Are any of you aware of tutorials or have you made framed crochet coin purses?

Italian Pie

Some of my happiest memories come from the times when the family is gathered round and we enjoy a nice Sunday dinner together.
It's a tradition that means a lot to me , and I'm grateful for children who continue to make these gatherings a high priority.
Now that my girls are older, and very capable in the kitchen, we take turns cooking.
Last night I hosted, and chose an Italian Theme for the menu.

I've been wanting to make Italian Pie since I saw the recipe and tutorial over on Nan Slaughter's blog Pots and Pins.
She called it Italian Easter Pie, but it really can be made any time of the year.

Nan always shows the most tantalizing foods on her blog.
This is a woman who recently went to Italy and took cooking classes.
If she says it's a 5-dang good recipe on the Richter scale, I trust her.
Plus, she's a great story teller and extremely funny.
Anyone who can cook and keep me laughing at the same time, gets my attention.

Italian Pie is not as sweet as the typical dessert here in the United States. I thought it was more like a rice pudding stuffed inside a phyllo dough base.
Lots and lots of butter, but every once in a while we need to splurge.
I deviated a slight bit and toasted sliced almonds instead of pine nuts, and thought the substitution worked out fine.
My daughter Aubrey called the pie "refreshing".
You can find the recipe with tutorial over on Nan's blog.
And yes, she's on my side bar where you can read more of her wonderful recipes and ideas.

Singin' Those Blogger Blues

What's up with Blogger?
Deleted posts.

Missing comments.

They say it will all be fixed.

Eventually.

The family is not too happy about it either.

We are feeling something like this rhinoceros we just saw at the Phoenix Zoo.

Laying in the mud waiting for something fun to happen.

(Our daughter Aubrey with Noah and Isaak)
We want to be our old smiling faces again.

Both boys just got their summer haircuts.

I've never seen Noah without his curls, and we hardly recognized him.

I know he will be so much more comfortable in the warm weather, but the grandma in me longs to run my fingers through his gorgeous hair.

The Phoenix Zoo is a great place to visit, by the way.

Voted one of the top 5 best zoos in the nation, and hosts over 1,300 animals.

Perfect for families and children.

Which brings up the age old question: Do Zebras have black stripes on white bodies, or white stripes on black?

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

I am continually amazed at the generous offers and thoughts that come from this blogging world.
You bless my life.
Thank you to all who have e-mailed and left comments, helping me in my search for Vintage Scottie Dog patterns.
Ask and Ye Shall Receive.

Blogging is like being part of a great family. What one doesn't know the other does.
Or, will help send you in the right direction.

I like to tell people that Blogging is like a good form of Gossip.
If our backyards were close together we would talk kindly over the fence.
Share a recipe or two.
Help each other with a listening ear, and a yes, encourage and indulge from time to time.
Well, with quilting, it would be a lot of indulgence.
My thanks to Niki who sent me the link to French Knots, and their Free Scottie Dog patterns.
Love them!