Yup, it’s that season again.
Two weeks ago, while Elegant Mother and I were in Iowa, Dear Husband took the boat to the boatyard and they craned it into Lake Michigan. He’s spent the last two weekends getting the boat squared away.
Monthly Archives: May 2005
The Saga of the South Seas
About five years ago, I attended the Strictly Sail convention on Navy Pier in Chicago. It’s a wonderful activity for sailors held at the end of January or the start of February when one can’t sail in our climate. Sailors gather to see the newest boats, tools, clothing, equipments, sails…..anything you might need to sail a boat.
Along with the exhibition floor, they offer dozens of one hour seminars on all sorts of subjects. Occasionally we would attend different classes, but frequently we sat through seminars together. One that I attended that year was about sailing in the Pacific. It seems that atolls are ringed with coral reefs, and there is usually only one area where you can cross through the reef to moor.
Furry “Friends”
Meet Ninotchka.
She’s the middle in age of three raccoon mommies who are living in our attic. One of these clever ladies ate her way through the roof, and the others, being no slouches, followed.
We were just about to evict them, when they gave birth. We are waiting for the day when we see tiny furry bodies milling around under the bird feeder.
Dear Husband has created a raccoon door, to allow the mommies access to their babies, while keeping the rain out. He’s also slipped lightweight metal under the bottom row of shingles to prevent other holes. Once the babies are outside, we will repair the hole and have the entire roof re-shingled.
Enjoy it while you can, Notch. It’s time for you to face the wilds of suburbia again!
Friends
I’m recuperating from three weeks of Spring cleaning and heavy housework. I volunteered to host two pot luck brunches in my home. You know that I had pages of “To Do” items. I diligently worked my way through them, and the Red Hatters came to us a week ago. It was a wonderful party. They filled the house with their laughter and conversation, and we had a great time, but it didn’t prepare me for Friday’s visit with the exerecise group.
Elegant Mother and I have been attending an exercise class together. I enrolled her in it five or six years ago, to get her ready for a trip to the Chelsea Flower Show in England, and we have stayed on, and on, and on.
That’s What Friends Are For
If you’ve read my blog in the past, you might have seen comments from Cop Car, complaining that I have created a MONSTER!!!
It’s a quilter’s joy to addict someone to quilting. Can you envision us rubbing our hands in glee, plotting each step to drag you to the DARK SIDE??? Well, she’s well and truly addicted, and I’m proud to say that I had a hand in it.
Unfortunately, you have to be careful, or your student might turn on you. Cop Car found a quilt store just a mile from her home, and she discovered a quilting software program called “Electric Quilt 5.” She’s shared with me the ease of designing a quilt, and even importing pictures of the actual fabric you wish to use in your quilt. I stood in awe of her progress, but resisted getting the software, thinking I simply didn’t have the time to learn a new program.
With a little help from my friends
It’s just amazing what I learn from my friends! I’m fortunate to be a part of the Friday Night Bee. It meets in my home once a month, and the ladies who make up the rest of the bee are the most prodigious quilters I know. We begin each session with Show and Tell, and although there are only eight of us, it can take half an hour to show and discuss new creations, or antique quilt finds, or new books to be shared.
Red Hat Momma
I’ve been trying for some time to get a picture of my Mother all dolled up in her Red Hat Finery. My brother was in New Orleans and bought her an incredible purple boa to go with the outfit. She wore it for the Red Hat Society brunch that was held at our house last weekend, and was the hit of the day.
Here’s Elegant Mother on May 21st, standing on the sidewalk to our home:
Repairs
The bane of a homeowner’s existence…..repairs! We built our house 16 years ago, and when it was ten years old we reached the point were it was patch, Patch, PATCH! You’d think a new house would stay “new” longer.
One down, one to go
Whewwwwww!
I’ve spent the past three weeks working on my Spring cleaning, and getting ready for two brunches which will be held here. I’ve been “missing in action” from my blog because there was so much work to be done. It’s been worth it.
We held the first gathering today for our Red Hat Society group.
An Italian style Spread
One of my mother’s friends sent a recipe to me for an Italian style spread that’s really yummy.
It’s a layered spread that starts with a layer of cream cheese mixed with goat cheese, spread and pressed into a bowl lined with plastic wrap.
The next layer is a blend of spinach, fresh basil, Parmesan and olive oil and garlic. It makes a dry pesto. This would work best in a food processor, but I was able to chop it finely in a blender.
On top of that you spread roasted pine nuts and finely diced sun-dried tomatoes.
Those layers are repeated and then the final layer is the last of the cream cheese/goat cheese mix.
The spread is chilled to blend the flavors, and then served with crackers. I’ve made this twice for my family, and I plan to make it for the two brunches coming up. It may become a staple at family gatherings. The pesto layer blended with the cheese is wonderful!