My Neighbor’s Garden

I have neighbors that are really there for me when I desperately need them.
Like when I desperately need their garden booty to make Pico De Gallo, Bruschetta or Shrimp Pasta Primavera.

This pleasant little harvest came from the neighbor that we are building a front entryway for.

She loves to bless me with tomatoes and I do not want to rob her of this blessing.
I like to eat this blessing.
Home grown tomatoes embarrass the store bought ones any day. They have the most wonderful, full flavor a bruschetta lover could imagine.

Don’t even get me started on the hot peppers she has given me. One of these cute little jalapenos has flavored an entire bowl of Pico de Gallo. The gentle spiciness mingles with the lime juice, onions, cilantro, green peppers and tomatoes oh so well.
I am in love.

These mild peppers have graced everything from my salads, to grilled sandwiches (which we call ‘sandies’), and taco meat.
So yummy.

I have never met a tomato I didn’t like. Unless of course you count the days when I was less than fifteen years old.
I was stupid then. I didn’t know the pleasures of a sun-ripened tomato.

This little guy intimidates me. It is a spicy red pepper. He has been staring at me every time I open the fridge door. I mean, just look at him.
Take a really good look at him below.

I think he’s yelling at me.

Here is the Crème de la crème. This fragrant basil grows in my neighbor-to-the-north’s front flower bed.
I cut a sprig of this lovely herb and sniff it for the next five hours.
I know, I am weird. But, it just smells so dang good.

I am so thankful for neighbors. And especially thankful for the neighbors with gardens.

A Tale of a Snow Goose and a Windshield

Bus drivers like to outdo each other with tales of their bus bursting into flames, losing a trailer while going 65 m.p.h., backing into the side of a building, pushing a dumpster through a restaurant, or going under a bridge that was too low for their bus. You know, the usual.
(photo courtesy of Malcolm Schuyl at http://www.wildvisions.co.uk)
I don’t have any of these tales. I am an ultra cautious driver.
In fact, one driver kindly reminded me that the gas pedal could be found on the right side.
However, do you see this cute bird above?

He’s not so cute when he flies straight into your windshield on a lonely stretch of the Canadian highway in the middle of the night.

This happened on the very last night of a very long 5 week tour. I was so ready to go home.
And then the kamikaze bird came into my life and scared the living daylights out of me.

 
I pulled myself together on the side of the road while picking glass out of my hair, eyelashes and house shoes. Yes, I drive in house shoes. Not very rock ‘n roll of me, is it?

Once I had calmed down, I drove several hours with my windshield like this, hoping to get everyone to the airport on time.

I dropped my group off, and instead of going home to Cowboy, my bed and a washing machine that didn’t require quarters, I spent the next several days at a Canadian truck stop with Biceps waiting for my window to be fixed.
And to be honest, we had a blast together decompressing after the long tour; biking throughout the scenic industrial park, walking the gravel path back and forth to the showers at the truck stop, meeting new and interesting people.
I suppose I have the snow goose to thank for this.

(photo courtesy of Malcolm Schuyl at http://www.wildvisions.co.uk)
May he rest in peace.

Modern Engagement with a Vintage Feel

Today, I am highlighting one of my favorite photographers, Justin Greiman.
(He also happens to be my Hubby’s brother.)
Justin shoots bands, babies, weddings and everything in between. His patient and humble approach to his clients is earning him a reputation not only as a great photographer, but also as a great guy to work with.
Plus, his photos pretty much rule.

Justin recently shot this series for this couple’s engagement. I love the deep saturation of color, the vintage feel, the hat-tipping to a time when men mowed the grass in a tie and women wore heels while cooking.
My hubby is lucky to see me outside of lounge pants.

(Justin shot all of these with a Nikon D90 at ISO 400. He used 28mm and a 50mm lenses for this shoot. He used partially available light, with a little fill from one sb800 in a 15″ softbox. He edited them in Lightroom using Color Efex Pro 3.0, a plugin from Nik Software.)

Justin captured a story with these next three shots. They intrigue me and I want to know more.

She seems pretty upset about something.

Her anger turns to sass, which is what mine usually does as well.
I get her.

His arms crack me up. They sell the vintage feel of the shot, as does the yellowed effect.
She looks perfectly posed; just like a print ad from the 60’s.

Could they be any more cute? Doubt it.

This is one of my favorites from the entire shoot. The mood draws you in, the graininess of the portrait softening the shot. It seems intimate, as if you are seeing a small snippet of their life that no one else gets to see.
Thank you Beau and Chrissie for allowing me to show off your engagement pictures. And congrats on the upcoming wedding!
And thank you Justin Greiman for taking such wonderful pictures. Go check him out-he’ll blow your little socks off!

Vintage Apron Skirt for the Sassy Girl

When life (Grandma) gave me aprons-lots of aprons…
I decided to make a skirt!
And I also believe that my stack of aprons are pro-creating with my original four. I keep finding more. Creepy.
I decided something must be done.
And this skirt popped in my crazy brain while I was sawing today.
This is super easy to make! And because it is a one of a kind, you will never be bummed at another church picnic because you are wearing the same exact thing Sister Susie is wearing.
Oh, isn’t that just the worst?

Here’s what you’ll need:
Iron & & Ironing Board
Scissors
Tape Measure
Seam Ripper
Straight Pins (although mine are a bit curvy)
Thread to match
Three aprons of similar length
Button Covers (if desired), or buttons-cute ones, please!

I chose these three adorable aprons because of the different patterns-gingham, stripes and floral print.
And they were pretty much the same length, too.
I decided that stripey would be my front of the skirt (the apron on the right), floral would go underneath the front as an accent (the apron on the left) and gingham (center apron) would be the back of the skirt.

Using a seam ripper, remove any pockets on the aprons that will be on the back of your skirt or is the accent pattern on your skirt.
Try not to poke your finger. Ouch.

Next, cut the apron strings (tee hee) from the aprons that will be the back of the skirt and the accent pattern. Keep these little suckers for later.

Make sure your apron is good and wrinkly.
Next, measure the center of the apron that will be the front of your skirt. Cut from the bottom of your apron towards the top, stopping at where the waist band is.

After you have made your cut, flip your front over and iron a seam allowance of about 1/4”.

Pin the apron strings that you had cut off of your accent pattern apron to the front of your skirt. Fold a 1/4” under for your seam and iron the strings into place.
Sew your strings to the front of your skirt.

Place the front of your skirt right side down. Center and pin to it, with the right side down, the accent pattern apron. Sew into place.

This is how the front of your skirt should look by now. See the peekaboo accent pattern? Isn’t it precious?
Moving on.

On the right side of the skirt, pin the front of your skirt to the back of your skirt, using a 2” seam allowance. Place a pin 4” below the waistband.
Sew into place, stopping at the 4” pin. Slip on your almost done skirt and pin the left side into place, top to bottom.

Sew from the bottom to the top on the left side of your skirt.

I made my own buttons using the material leftover from the apron strings. But you can use any ol button your heart desires. I made one real button hole on the right side and attached a matching button on the left side of the skirt, just to bring symmetry to the situation.
I also added a hook and eye on my right side, for more concealing power. But you can use a second button, or forgo the whole button thing and throw in a zipper.
Get crazy! I dare ya!

And here’s the finished front of the skirt, once more. Isn’t it cute, sassy and vintage all rolled into one? I think so, and I think I will wear it tomorrow night.
And below is my backside.

My very wrinkly backside. Please ignore the fact that I did not iron this apron. I wanted cheddar whales, hubby and a little snuggle time.

Let me know if you make an Apron Skirt. I would love to see it!