Nine Pounds Down....

and......

those brand new one-smaller-size-jeans are no longer in the closet!

Dancing this sweet baby around the house has helped with the nine-pound-down thing

plus 

denying myself all those yummy carbs.

I am feeling the need for a delicious bite of king cake or two before Lent begins....hmmm...

it will have to be Bavarian cream filled for me to allow it in.

T.G.I.F.

 Just agree with me it has been a long, stressful, sad, tiring week

and

I'm so glad it is Friday. 

Early in the week we had to put our sick dog down.  I cannot convey how sad it made us. 

 The decision making was agonizing.

We miss that good dog and it will take a while before our backyard feels normal. 

 I don't think I want another dog...at least not for a long time.

Last Saturday, my husband pulled his lower back...oh, not too badly according to him.

He kept on doing his same ole routine...working, lifting heavy stuff, yard work,

moving furniture...the whole time saying nothing of his hurting back.

At 1:00 a.m. on Thursday morning,  he got up for the bathroom and could not walk back to bed...could not take one step.  He was in such tremendous pain and I thought he was going to have a heart attack.

The scary images that ran through my mind were not pretty.

I helped him get to a nearby chair and eventually back to bed.  

A doctor visit was on tap for early Thursday.

A steroid injection given, pain medication provided and he is up walking again...

but

taking it very easy.

No grass cutting, lifting, gardening or compost hauling this weekend!

A few days ago I pulled up two large carrot plants and this is what came up out of our wonderful garden soil.  Hmmm....I surely won't be winning any awards at the county fair for the prettiest carrots...maybe the most vulgar looking!  Short, fat, ugly, tasty carrots!  haha

and this is just glass head pins...very closeup.

I hope to sew this weekend....my frazzled nerves need some sewing therapy!

Firstborn Has Arrived

Since my last post,

I completed and delivered this Mary De jumper...

just in time for the kindergarten interview.

Took a few pics of my messy craft table and sewing room.

There are weeks around here where this room seems to become a "catch-all room."

I don't like that very much.

I love it all straightened up and especially like being able to walk through the room without breaking a leg or stubbing toes.

A clean sewing room makes me want to sew...a couple summer nightgowns for myself...before I actually need them.

And today, 

I watched Firstborn rent a moving truck, load it up, and drive off to unload his meager belongings into his new apartment 45 miles away.

He is a working man now and ready to move out on his own.

I am proud, happy, and sad all at the same time.

He left with the dinnerware set my husband and I purchased the day after we brought him home from the hospital as a newborn twenty-three years ago.

Yes, time really does fly....

Our Late January Garden

The kale started growing better in January...if it would get cooler/colder it probably would do even better.

The romaine and butter crunch lettuce is keeping us supplied with salad greens.

The carrot patch is being used up dish by dish...the greens are a foot tall.

Here the newly planted leek seedlings are taking root and starting to grow.

Now if we could live on flat leaf parsley alone...oh, how easy life would be as it grows with little effort on my part.

A small arugula patch...no need for a larger one as we really don't care too much for the taste or smell of this green...there are five yellow onion plants growing in the arugula.

A cauliflower that needs to be cut, cooked, and eaten...we've had a wonderful cauliflower crop this year.

Now to the sugar snap peas...the plants are over two feet tall and beginning to bloom...I planted the seeds below around Christmas.

And look what I found this afternoon....our first sugar snap pea!  

These are so easy to grow and so very tasty!

Next post will probably be from the very messy sewing room...that is also housing a baby seat, a baby stroller, a crib, a mini-trampoline (for me, not baby) and lots of sewing, fabric and scissor disorder.

I'll have to clean things up before I take pics! ;)

They Know Me Well....

Oh, yes, these seed catalog companies know where I live...they're in cahoots with my mailman....

who keeps putting these luscious looking catalogs in my mailbox...

almost a new one every day lately...

the pics make me want to part with my money...

plant leeks, tomatoes, and potatoes

grow fragrant and delicious herbs in terracotta pots on the patio

and collect the ripe veggies and herbs in a garden hod.  

Oh, yes, these guys know the way to the sowing side of my heart!

Thankful Thursday

A new sewing project started this morning while baby napped

Lawn fabric for new summer nightgowns washed and waiting to be cut out

The gift of Louisiana citrus

grapefruit and naval oranges

satsumas, lemons, and Louisiana sweets

one delicious artisan bread for dinner

Bake - Sew - Love

A couple days ago,  Jeannine from Grace and Peace left a lovely comment on my blog...so naturally I went to her blog to meet her and there found a wonderful cake recipe!

I decided to bake it for my family on the Feast of Epiphany and here we are the next day and the cake is no more...good cake.

  I had was one teeny, teeny, tiny bite...and it tasted delicious!

I borrowed the bundt pan from my neighbor.    

I sprayed the inside and floured it well and was very surprised when that cake released from the pan so perfectly!

I used 2/3 cup of the remaining mini chocolate chips, a bit of heavy cream, 1/4 tsp. of instant coffee and 1 Tbsp. of butter to make a ganache icing....mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

It was a hit!

After smiling baby left, I made the flannel princess pajama shirt to match the pj pants from my last post.

I think the little recipient of this gift might not want to take these off! 

Smiling baby

yes, his chubba cheeks get kissed 4.2 million times per day!

Off to tar$$$$$get

wonder if I can sneak out of there spending less than 100 bucks???