I Scream, You Scream...

I don't actually scream, but this time of year, I crave ice cream, BAD! Here is a great, simple (3 ingredients!) recipe from my friend, Barbara.

Strawberry Ice Cream
Combine 2 1/2 cups strawberry soda, 1 can Eagle Brand and 1 pint finely chopped fresh strawberries. Freeze in an electric ice cream machine for about 30 minutes.

That's it! Enjoy!

Washington Pics

I hope you guys enjoy the following slide show! It took me a little while to finish up some of the projects I started at Ellen's, but they are all complete. Things are a little crazy at my house right now, as I am working on a couple of new things for the business-stay tuned!

Sew Serendipity

I recently discovered this blog. This gal is from North Texas and has some really great patterns, as well as a recently released book. Her latest post is about a new fabric lounge in Dallas called "CityCraft". I can't wait to get to Big D to check it out! It happens to be near Sam Moon and United Notions, hmmm...I feel a business trip shaping up!
http://http://blog.sewserendipity.com/

Kinda Weird

Over the course of my life, I have probably only met about 10 other people named Gretchen. Well, my friend Carolyn found another Gretchen Thompson on Blogger! She is a photographer in, of all places, Seattle! Here's the link to her blog http://gretchen-thompson.blogspot.com.

Becky's Lemon Buttermilk Sorbet

Ellen and I got this recipe from our friend Becky. Becky is not sure where she got it originally, so I am naming it after her. Although she resides in Washington now, Becky is from the South, you know the land of Buttermilk Pie and Buttermilk Fried Chicken and now, Becky's Lemon Buttermilk Sorbet. Thanks to her for such a great, easy recipe!

Here's all you need to do. Combine the following ingredients, 2 cups buttermilk (low fat is fine), 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 cup sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla and freeze in an electric ice cream freezer, about 20-30 minutes.

Warning! This stuff is highly addictive!

What I Did Today

That's me modeling my Church Lady Apron. It's two aprons in one and a lot of fun to make. It is cool and rainy today, perfect for sewing! We went to the KWJZ Jazz Festival yesterday and it was great. The headliner was Fourplay, with Bob James-awesome music and a beautiful setting at the Chateau St. Michele Winery. Tomorrow we have Ellen's quilting bee, Space Needlers and I can't wait to see what they are working on!

Where's Gretchen?

Yes, dear followers, I have fled the heat of Spicewood for the home of my heart, Seattle. I know, it has only been 3 weeks since I was here, but what's a girl to do? By the way, I quilted 22 quilts in the 3 weeks that I was home! Seriously I am extremely blessed to have wonderful people in my life who encourage and enable me to do these kinds of things.

Ellen and I went to Stitch N Pitch last night, http://stitchnpitch.com at Safeco Field. It was great! The Mariners played the Texas Rangers and the Rangers shut them out 6-0! Pictures will be up next week , as I am not on my computer. Tomorrow we will stay home and sew and then on Sunday we will attend the KWJZ Jazz Festival, http://kwjz.com. If you have never been to this part of the country, you should try to get here at some point. It is so incredibly beautiful you almost cannot believe it.

Thanks for checking in on me and I will be back soon!

What's For Dinner?

Chili-Rubbed Tilapia with Asparagus and Lemon, that's what! I got this great recipe from Ellen. It is fast and healthy and we love it! Here's what you need:
2 lbs. asparagus, tough ends removed
2 TBSP. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt, divided
1 pound tilapia fillets
2 TBSP. olive oil
3 TBSP. lemon juice
Steam the asparagus for about 3 minutes on the stove top or in the microwave, drain and set aside. Combine the chili powder, garlic powder and 1/4 tsp. salt on a plate and dredge the tilapia fillets in this mixture. Heat oil in a large skillet and add the fish. Cook just until opaque, gently turning halfway through, about 5-7 minutes total. Remove the fish to a plate. To the skillet add the remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, lemon juice and the asparagus. Toss until heated through, about 2 minutes. Serve the asparagus with the fish. I added wild rice because hubby is a rice man. A mixed green salad would be even healthier.

Living on the Edge

Just in case you have ever wondered how longarm quilters live dangerously (you know you have, admit it!), this is how! That is all that remained on the cone after quilting a queen sized customer quilt. There was even a fist pump involved in the completion, as I had been praying to have enough thread for the last two rows!