To the Lovelies Who Inspire Me...I'm Visiting You Today!

I'm going on a virtual visitation! Today, I'm making a big effort to visit every blog I follow. Wouldn't it be fun if we actually could visit? We could have coffee...sit and knit...scrapbook...oh we'd have a grand time!

First of all, it really is a good idea to go check on all the blogs you follow--just to see if anyone has moved (like in real life) or if anyone has vanished from blog world. This is a courtesy to your own visitors, who, if  they are like me, check out all the folks you follow.

To me, the places and people I follow are magical. I get daily inspiration from them...I'm entertained...informed...and some make me wonder, in a wonderful way. It's all good stuff! I often visit and comment on some that I see in the daily feed--but today, I am visiting everyone! You are all important to me and I wish all the best and wonderful things to you. I hope you stay inspired, healthy, energetic, and happy. Even if we are oceans apart, thank you for being my neighbor in blog world! A big stitchy, dreamy, crafty hug to you!!

If we all lived on the same street, I'd walk around today with a basket full of tomatoes and leave some at your door! Enjoy your summer!

Eat, Write, Dream, Stitch and go visiting once in awhile!

Grow Happy

Plant a garden and watch your happiness grow.

Homemade Easy Sea Salt Potato Chips

A sandwich full of fresh-from-the-vine garden veggies needs something special to go with it--and not something out of a bag! Homemade sea salt potato chips are so easy to make, and are ready in about the time it takes to make the sandwich!

I have this wonderful contraption called a "Salad Master" that comes with different cones. This one makes the nice thin slices that I often use for baked scalloped potatoes, so today I decided to used it for my potato chips. You can use any type of mandolin that makes the thin slices, or slice them by hand. Two or three potatoes are plenty for two people.

 I tossed my sliced yukon gold potatoes in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, and sprinkled them with sea salt. They go into a 400-degree oven for about 15 minutes. Turn on your convection fan to reduce the time and brown them faster--just keep an eye on them. You can tell when they are done.

I served my homemade chips with ham, cheddar, basil and tomato sandwiches on honey wheat bread. I love slicing up the yellow and red tomatoes for each sandwich.

These homemade chips would be really yummy tossed with some chopped fresh rosemary. Hmmm...do over!

Sunday Threads

"Furnish the sacred tent with curtains made from ten pieces of the finest linen. They must be woven with blue, purple, and red wool and embroidered with figures of winged creatures.

Exodus 26:1

The Butterfly Horse I Love

I confess: I'm not a country music fan. Not at all. But I love Dolly Parton. I've been to Dollywood, a few years ago. And this summer I saw the musical "9 to 5" at Tent Theatre, and it was written by Dolly. She actually appears on a screen at the beginning and at the end of the musical. Pretty cool! I loved the musical by the way...it gives some back stories of the characters from the movie. Anyhoo! Not long after I saw "9 to 5" the musical, my family and I went to Dixie Stampede. It's a huge dinner show where you enjoy a full-on show in an arena with the beautiful horses, riders, performers, and a really good dinner all at the same time! In the beginning, Dolly owned Dixie Stampede. She has since sold it, but her name is still all over it, and she appears on a screen in that show too! You are not allowed to take pictures in there, but, when I was in the lobby, I had to shoot a couple of pics of Dolly's "Colt of Many Colors." Isn't she beautiful?

I think most people know that Dolly collects butterflies--fans from all over the world have been sending her butterflies for years, and I saw the actual display of them at Dollywood. So, I was completely delighted to stumble upon Dolly's butterfly horse!

I love butterflies too. I need to stitch one and send it to her one day.

Back in 2004, I had the privilege of performing in a local production of  Steel Magnolias and I played, guess who, Truvy! I have such a connection to Dolly!

I think this statue is a bit valuable in many ways--so fun to see it. Love you Dolly!

Lauren and I outside of Dixie Stampede

Eat, Write, Dream, and Stitch a Butterfly

Girly Glittery Paper Frame

If you are the crafty scrappy type...then you are blessed with a special ability. You can see potential! That's what happened to me one afternoon at a thrift store 25-cent sale when I picked up a plain paper frame. Many others had passed it over, they couldn't even sell it for 29 cents...but when I looked at the plain brown hinged frame, I saw something dreamy, paid my quarter, and made my plans.

Here's how it all started.

 I've been working on some other scrappy projects, so I had my scrapbook papers, glitter and goodies very handy. I decided to cut strips for the front, and stamped a few bees on the bottom--perfect to go with my flowers and butterflies.

I fit squares of this sparkly butterfly paper for the back of the frames and kept it simple.

I have such a good time glittering!

I glittered my butterflies, a flower, and added a cute tag with a button.

Inbetween the frames, where the brown paper still showed, I colored in with blue pencils, dotted in some glue and glittered it. The effect looks like little jewels. Fun!

This is probably THE most inexpensive frame I've ever purchased--and now, one of my cutest frames ever. I've never had a paper picture frame before--but I'm keeping my eyes peeled for more!

Minnie wants her own frame--she's ready for her closeup!

Eat well, Write often, Dream creatively, Stitch some love.

Life Is a Bowl of Cherry Tomatoes

I was soooo excited when the first of the cherry tomatoes turned red in my garden. I had been watching over all the tomato plants...happy to see the beefsteaks, romas, early girls, and yellow boys getting bigger and bigger. The problem was, they just kept staying green! Then finally, one day, I went out there, watering, weeding, and glanced up to notice a little glint of red. It was a teeny cherry tomato! I think I squealed. Hi neighbors! That was back in late June...and ever since the cherry tomatoes have been blushing into ripeness every day! The other tomatoes are coming along quite nicely too...in fact...I'm going to can the first few jars tomorrow. Hubby just went in the garage and pulled down the giant waterbath canner. We are ready, tomatoes! But in the meantime, I can't can cherry tomatoes and I've had ooodles and oooodles of cherry tomatoes to pick...pop in my mouth fresh off the vine...toss into salads...snack on with ranch dressing...oh my...what was I going to do with all of them? What a great problem to have. Ahhh, I love summer.

I grew my cherry tomatoes from seed back in March.

Today's harvest.

I finally decided to try tossing these guys into some linguine. We loved it! I made this linguine with a little olive oil, butter, a splash of Italian dressing, the cherry tomatoes halved, and some steamed broccoli. Plenty of parmesan cheese and basil made it perfect. Two yums up.

Eat fresh...Write fresh...Dream fresh...Stitch fresh.