Tomato Sauce

Recently I made tomato sauce from the hundred or so tomatoes that were in my freezer. I had such an abundant crop last year!!



First I thawed all the tomatoes so that the skin and lots of extra water could be released easily.


Then I sorta cut them up and put them to stewing in a very large pot.


I added some salt, pepper, garlic, and sugar to the sauce and boiled until all the chunks were broken down and the texture was thick.

I blended the sauce in the blender for additional smoothness!

This ended up making two gallons of the most delicious tomato sauce EVER!

I HEART TOMATOES!

More Favs

Watermelon, chap stick, twilight, Law & Order, Bones, fresh laundry, a clean house.

Today is Friday. Don left for three days -National Guard stuff - and Briana went shopping downtown. I'm home all day by myself. It's chilly, overcast, and raining. I have no chores to do, and Verizon has my driveway blocked all day. I could read, nap, sew, cook, plan for next year, paint a picture, sort out closets, organize pictures, sort my fabric stash. Actually, I think sorting my fabric stash seems to win here. I have so much stuff, I cannot even close the cedar chest I've stuffed it in. AND I have some projects planned for when we return for Louisiana that I want to get ready. Lately, I've been using pieces from the top because the trunk is so disorganized. I know I have some great colors down near the bottom of that heap. Wow, I can't wait to see what treasures I might find.

One of my projects is a scrap quilt that is made with just leftover blues, purples, pinks, and greens. All the pieces are strips no wider than 2 1/2 inches wide and however long. I sewed them all together end to end until I made a long strip. Then I folded that in half and sewed the two sides together. I repeated the process until I had a piece about 2 feet wide and about 4 feet long. It is really interesting to see how the colors come together. Now I think I'll cut this crosswise and make strips 2 ft by 8 inches. I should get about 8 of these pieces. I don't know what I'll do with these strips yet. Who knows what I'll find in my fabric search today. This is the fun part!!

More Quilts

This summer has been a busy one, but I still had time to complete a few projects. The first and smaller quilt wall hanging is a wedding gift for a dear friend of mine. The Dutch flowers are made of felted wool sewn on with black embroidery thread.




This next quilt is one that I made during the heat wave. I parked in the basement for about 4 days trying to stay cool. I was already planning to do a quilt with circles - - so the time was right!!



This third quilt was made in May. It was a competition quilt using a feature Hoffman fabric. I chickened out and didn't send it in for judging. Maybe nest year, I'll get brave enough with the next challenge fabric.



I hope you enjoy!

Upon Solitude

Three weeks ago - - anticipation and preparation
Two weeks ago - - party party party
Last week - - recovery and putting things back in order
This week - - solitude.
I've read a book, stared out the window, embroidered, folded clothes, slept, cooked, petted the cat, pulled a few weeds, prayed.
Next Week - - ?

Post reunion blues

It's all over. Wow! I didn't think we, our house, my sanity would make it. But, now that folks have come and gone - - I want it all back. I want all the family and running around and stories and confusion to last forever.

Observations - - we all get along with only a few misunderstandings here and there. Mom got much stronger while she was here. Some of us are louder than others. All of us want what is best. We are all Christian. Food is still our number one activity. We all like to grow interesting plants in our yards. We all have kids and more kids and more kids. We are all well-read and educated. We ALL engage in meaningful pursuits well beyond our professional lives. I am honored to be around such interesting people. Who knew that Jack and Gretchen would create such an enormous legacy of life. Most of us are just ordinary people with no particularly amazing talents putting one foot in front of the other with faith in God and hope for our children. That's kinda cool!

Anticipating the unstoppable

It's Tuesday night. People will start arriving on Friday. Let's see, I need to talk to Father Charles tomorrow, get cash, buy a new iron, confirm with River Drifters, go over the itinerary with Barbara, and go to a workshop. Thank you, Don for taking Thursday and Friday off - - I will need you every minute!! In case you are wondering what all this anticipation is all about, well I can tell you. Starting Friday, the Bonnin Family Reunion 2009 will officially begin. We have lots to do and loads of fun and family planned for the crew. I am looking forward to all the festivities - -after all, my mom is turning 80. From the beginning I didn't know if this was going to happen. First, the economy crashed - - would people be able to take a week off from life to travel to the NW for a vacation? Then we had record snowfall. What would our house, deck, airport, anything, be like after all that snow? Then Don was slated to be activated - - Would I be managing this without my Rock? Then Swine Flu and the fear of traveling on an airplane. Then, at the last minute, Granny got sick and had to spend time in the hospital. EE Gads! I did not think we were going to pull this thing off. Well here we are; it hasn't happened yet, but things are still green light, so to speak. Now if we can keep every one healthy and avoid any accidents between now and the July 6th, I will be grateful. I wish we could all be together for ever, but I know that is not possible. I envy my friend Drew who lives with her family - - husband, daughter, brother, mother, various sisters. She is unhappy about it. I don't think she knows how lonely she'd be without them. In any case, I have covered as many details about this reunion as I can possibly think of. I know that there are going to be a whole lot of "uh-oh's" along the way, so I am putting on my duck armor so my feelings won't get hurt. I'll post lots of pics when I can get my brain back to what is important.
PS - - FAVS, cont. Mike's Hard Lime! Sleeping with the windows open. Charlie Marbles (our newest kitty). Hearing my mom's voice. Pulling the last weed in the garden. Sunshine. Praying for Susan, Aimee, Betty Kirby, and that lady next to me in church.