More Heron Festival

A fellow passenger very kindly took this picture of us and Shadow.




This is a green back heron....never seen one before.

Heron Festival Boat Ride

 

 

 

 

Some photos on a lovely pontoon boat ride on Clear Lake during the Heron Festival.

New Table Runner

I decided to try my hand at combining embroidery and sewing to create a spring table runner.

I need to work on the angles I used for the letters, but I am pleased with the pieced quilt top.

I need lots of practice learning to sew on the binding. Guess I'm going to have to take some lessons instead of learning everything from videos on the internet.

Lake County Stars - Congratulations!

The Chamber of Commerce sponsors a program to recognized people and businesses within the community. This year the AARP Volunteer Tax Preparers were nominated for the volunteer work (Larry has been helping for the last three years). Last night was the gala event.

I'll say this - the people attending certainly embraced the "Lake County wear anything" idea. There were people in tuxedos and evening gowns. There were people in T-shirts. There were people in denim. There were BADLY dressed people in evening wear. There were well dressed people in every day clothes.

Bottom line - it was very well organized but took way too much time to announce all the recipients.

The AARP Volunteers did receive a Star award for their contributions to the community.

Harry Graves - awesome WWII, Korea and Vietnam war Navy veteran received the Spirit of Lake County Star. Harry is a perpetual motion machine and an asset to humanity.

April 2

Around 37 years ago we were visiting relatives Billings, Montana and had this really tasty salad. Elizabeth Lindmark shared the recipe.

Coleslaw Souffle salad

1 package LEMON Jello
1 1/2 Cup HOT water
2 TBSP white vinegar
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1/2 tsp Celery Seed
1/4 tsp Salt
Dash of Pepper
1 TBSP Minced onion
1 1/2 Cups finely chopped cabbage
2-4 Tbsp finely chopped green pepper

Dissolve Jello in hot water. Add vinegar, mayonnaise, salt and pepper, blend.

Chill until slightly thickened and beat until fluffy. Fold in vegetables and celery seed.

Pour into mold and chill to set.

Treat Bag Tutorial

I wanted to create a doggie bag that is sturdy and wouldn't hang too low from the waist of the human. I also wanted to sew it as simply as possible...as in getting the pocket for the cord created BEFORE it is sewn into a tube! My treat bags are personalized with embroidery.
So here it is...feel free to use however you like, just don't try to sell my tutorial!
Drawstring Treat Bag
Choose your fabrics--less than 1/4 yard each (Piecing something together works well!)....I am using a 100% cotton fabric for the lining and a polyester/cotton for the exterior. You will also need cording (16"), webbing for a handle (approximately 8"), cord locks, coordinating thread and the usual sewing notions.

From each fabric cut one 5" circle and one 15.7" x 8.5" rectangle.

If you are going to use your embroidery machine, now is the time to get your design embroiderer on the rectangle of fabric so that it is centered on one half of the rectangle (because you are going to have a SIDE seam).
In the center of piece for the back, position a piece of webbing for the handle and sew to the top and bottom - using a 1/4" seam allowance.

On each rectangle top edge - fold down 1/2" and press. Fold down 1 1/4" and press.

Top stitch the lower edge and the upper edge of 1 1/4" 'pocket' - this will be your
cord pocket.

Sew the side seam to make a tube and pin 5" circle in bottom.

Now you have the lining finished and the exterior finished.

Place the lining in the exterior - wrong sides facing.

Pin the two together at the top edge. Top stitch the lower edge and upper edge of the 'pocket'.

Using a seam ripper remove the stitches in the exterior side seam between the top stitching.

Thread the cord through the side seam opening through the pocket and back through the side seam opening. Install the cord locks....and you are finished!

This is Zum's bag...it is made using outdoor fabric for the exterior. This has a major oops (drawing string should be elsewhere)....but I think it looks good and will last a long time.