Cherry Pie in my Future

Today was a perfect dry, cool summer day... high sparse clouds... and the tart cherries are ripe for the picking.  Pick them I did. In a little over an hour of relaxed meandering through the trees, I have about eleven pounds of cherries.  They are pitted now and half are frozen in quart bags.  The rest will wait until tomorrow to become pies most likely.  I pit by hand one at a time so the cherry stays round, plump and juicy.  Years ago the tart pie cherries were called "sours."  Marketing experts thought "tart" sounded better.

A note on the Wascally Wabbit in my garden.... he has eaten the third planting of lettuce almost entirely... it's time I planted more for him.  My own lettuce is now growing nicely in a large pot on a raised deck seat.  Keeping my fingers crossed little Bunny doesn't climb.

Bunnies Eat Marigolds??

Who would believe the bunnies not only ate the new growth on the first planting of lettuce, the second lettuce planting, the nasturtiums and... yes, those nice marigolds I bought at the market
a week ago?  I also planted 4 zucchini plants and 3 sweet pepper plants in the middle of the mess... no photos yet as it look quite dismal.

Today's trip to Market was fruitful (pun intended): gorgeous strawberries, beets with those delicious edible greens attached, sweet snap peas and more spinach. A wee pot of rosemary, too. Nibble away, sweet bunnies.

Farmers Market Saturday

The second plantings of lettuce and swiss chard are up in my little garden for the bunnies.  A visit to the Farmers Market this morning resulted in salad for me, too!  The first spinach and arugula are here for the season, first strawberries, too, but the last of the asparagus until next year.  I bought a few marigolds to hopefully deter those hungry rabbits.

Toddler Tablecloth Sundresses

Charming little dresses from vintage tablecloths... I'm loving making these.  Here are some 2-3T and a 5-6T dresses (almost finished) specially made for a sweet summer shop in Northport, MI.  The vintage fabrics are such nice quality. Several more dresses are waiting in line beside my sewing machine. I'll use vintage buttons on these, too.

No Bunnies Allowed

My petite slightly raised garden bed is ... was... happily producing lettuce, swiss chard, peas and radishes until the adorable baby bunny emerged from beneath my neighbor's front porch.  First night he/she ate three rows of swiss chard.  So I googled rabbit repellent and sprayed what remained of the potential harvest with a mix of dish soap, hot sauce and water.  Next morning the peas were decimated.  I'll continue with the spray for a couple of weeks and see what happens.  The replanted swiss chard should be up by then and we can start over.... or not.  There's a lot to be said for visiting the Farmers' Market each Saturday.

Double Wedding Ring Quilts & Rhubarb

I can still find my way by the seat of my pants!  I found an estate sale yesterday 2 hrs. from home with only vague directions.  No signs were up until a teeny 10" low-to-the-ground sign at the street name.  It was oh, so worth it!  I found these two lovely hand-pieced antique double wedding ring quilt tops with the most beautiful feed sack fabrics!  And the last half hour of searching for the sale took me through horse country, Amish country... simply beautiful sights.  An additional bonus was the fresh rhubarb at the honor-system roadside stand.  Perhaps a pie will be baked today!

The Nostalgia of Tablecloths

Not only are the brightly printed tablecloths of the era around the 1950s full of memory for those of us who grew up back then.... the quality of the fabrics is superior.  Consequently I am drawn to these for my sewing and creating.  Here are pics of a few of the items I make from these old pretties... and I've included a photo of my tablecloth collection.  Most are cutters... otherwise I could not possibly cut into them.