Monday, July 3, 2017

Shawl Ta-Dah and Summer Picnic

I sewed in the last end this morning of my Sunday Shawl!  Is there anything better than finishing a big project?  I'm pretty pleased with the end result.  I can actually see how fun it would be to have more of these with different colors in them.  :-) But this one says summer to me.


What do you think?  I tried to take a photo outside but the sunshine washed all the color out of it.  Maybe on a cloudy day I'll try again.


If you made one what color would you use for the body and what range of colors for the lacy edging?  I may have not used so much of the yellow tones if I did this one again.



The flower baskets continue to flourish.. love them!


The other one with purple and orange.



We've got lilies in bloom all around the garden, this one just opened.



The purple Astilbe is opening up.. I love it's fuzzy flowers.  I do see some little holes in my lime colored hosta but on the whole they are faring well from chomping insects so far.


The Hydrangea flowers are turning purple!



Love!


The Limelight Hydrangea is opening.. it will be fun to see how it does when fully unfurled.



We dined al fresco last evening.  Dayle made BBQ country style pork ribs and I made the potato salad and Kristi cut up the watermelon.  My potato salad recipe - I cook my potatoes skin on and then let them cool before chopping - with Russet potatoes I peel them before chopping, with Yukon Golds I pretty much leave the skin on.  I boil and chop a dozen eggs, add chopped celery, chopped sweet pickles and put in a lot of mayonnaise, a squirt of yellow mustard, some sweet pickle juice and season with salt and pepper.

Aunt Berta's BBQ Ribs

1/2 c ketchup
1/2 c BBQ sauce
1 T brown sugar
Garlic Salt
1 t soy sauce
1 T Worcestershire sauce
Country style pork ribs (boneless)

Bake at 325 for 3 hours. 



And here we are.. and in the vein of authenticity this table is not staged in a glossy magazine style.. here you see plastic jugs of lemonade, mis-matched drink-ware, a hodgepodge of serving dishes.. LOL.. but look at those cute boys!


My Hibiscus had three blooms on it yesterday.. only once or twice did I have 3 at once.  Aren't these flowers something?


The bush itself is a bit scraggly.. I guess I should put it out on the deck for the summer.. 



Tomorrow is the 4th of July.  We'll watch the parade and celebrate our Independence.  I hope you have a wonderful day if you celebrate.. and for those who don't.. please think a good thought for our country.  It's in peril.  Our "leader" is more interested in tweeting angry tweets at our media than the fact that he and his party might take away health care from 22 million people.  People will begin dying if they are "successful".  For those of us who care about the less fortunate and our friends and family, this is a very stressful time.  

But tomorrow we will celebrate our country and hope for a better future. ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

23 comments:

  1. Your table is full of LOVE! That is what matters! Lucky you to have your family with you to enjoy!

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  2. Your shawl turned out gorgeous! And the flowers are so pretty too but the country is in peril and I too worry about it's future. It's hard to believe what's going on around us now days. It's as though we have been taken over. Very bizarre behavior from those Rebublicans. They could put a stop to this and they don't. It's very troubling.

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  3. The shawl is a triumph! Your flowers are so pretty. Tim and I found what has been munching on the rose leaves, but I am not sure what has munched some holes in one of our new little Hosta plants. Your picnic looked yummy and Dayle and your cute boys looked happy to enjoy it :-)
    Half of our household is headed to visit friends tomorrow and the rest of us have other friends coming here for a picnic tomorrow. Wishing you a happy 4th and praying that the leaders of our nation will do a better job of coming together to work for the good of all in our nation. xx

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  4. The potato salad looks so yummy> recipe? Please!

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    1. I added the recipe in the post above for you. :-)

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  5. Your shawl is so gorgeous! Wonderful that you are able to dine outside. I'm stuck inside hiding from the heat. Missing my walks. I'm truly embarrassed by all that's happening in the US and can't believe that anyone in their right mind thinks it's all okay. Have a fabulous 4th.

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  6. The shawl was stunning, I love it. When I have more time I would like one in exactly the same colours and a neutral one of creams/beiges that will tone down some bright dresses I have for the winter. Your grandsons really are cute, you are certainly blessed. Hope you have a wonderful celebration.

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  7. Love the shawl - it's beautiful!

    I'm having a VERY hard time celebrating July 4th. It's a sad time for our country and the lack of empathy currently evident is astounding to me. Those who expect the "Republican Party" to do something about it seem to be unaware that there is only the "Republican TEA Party" now - and THAT party does not care about anyone or anything but themselves and their wallets.

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  8. Your shawl is lovely and may it wrap you in peaceful thoughts whenever you wear it.

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  9. Good for you Teresa and your honest dinner table setting! Meredith reminded us all of our reality last post right? I LOVE your flowers. I imagine they need a good daily soaking of water??????
    Yes, this is a strained 4th of July but I just listened to the NPR reading of the Declaration of Ind and it is a good reminder of how our forefathers tried to protect this land and country and people for years to come with their writing. As for the shawl it is perfection. IF I were to make one I bet I would do the body in greens and the lacy edges in purples????

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  10. I just love your shawl. It turned out great. Love the colors. Your recipe for potato salad sounds yummy. I'm gonna give it a try. Could you also post the recipe for the BBQ ribs too please!!!!

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  11. Love your natural/ normal table with your family. The shawl is beautiful Teresa. I do hope you have had/ have a lovely 4th July celebration despite everything. Hugs Anne x

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  12. Teresa - the shawl is something to wear often - a terrific result. I am partial to earth tones, so I probably would make the body a rusty orange, and augment with pine greens, mustard yellow and the like.

    My husband is about to start the barbecue; we will be enjoying hamburgers, brats, watermelon, baked beans, grilled zucchini planks and macaroni salad. I am salivating already.

    I share your concern about our country and I believe we can get through anything, as we have in the past.

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  13. Love your shawl and love those two hanging flower baskets. Hope you had a happy 4th July. Xox

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  14. Our hibiscus is having its annual porch vacation. Do you prune yours? Your picnic looks yummy. Happy Fourth!

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  15. PS I LOVE the shawl; it's gorgeous!

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  16. Your shawl looks lovely and I'm sure you'll get lots of admiring looks and comments when you're wearing it.

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  17. Your shawl is GORGEOUS! It will go with so many different things. So cheerful. love it. and those ribs sound might good!!

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  18. Wow...your shawl is amazingly gorgeous Teresa!! I love the colours you've used and the order of the stripes...it will be a joy to wear. Your flowers are beautiful too. Your picnic looks delicious. I hope you and your family had a wonderful July 4th (and thank you for your sweet birthday wishes to me, my friend!)
    Have a great week.
    Helen xox

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  19. Your shawl is so pretty! I could see purple in it with off white and a green maybe... You are such a crocheter that just keeps on going with projects. I have too much I need to do and haven't started one I have get done in a few months. I'm gonna get to work on my days off and it will get done. I want to get knitting projects done as I've got so much yarn lurking in a bag, calling my name. "-} Your flowers are lovely and I need to trim some limbs from a tree so the hydrangeas will get more light. i keep telling myself I need to move the plant for more light now that the tree is bigger. Happy week!

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  20. I have not had a second to visit this week so I am visiting your last three posts all at once. Your shawl is just the most gorgeous thing I have seen in a long time. It is perfect! I am starting my new one tonight.

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  21. Hey Teresa that recipe is very similar to the one I use on chicken wings and marinade for 24hrs ☺☺ Your shawl is gorgeous!! and of course those boys are cute xoxo

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