Summer Farm Stand Quilt

 Today I've got another old, recently finished, UFO to herald in first day of summer.

 I think it was around 2010 when I found a bin of fruit and vegetable fat quarters at a quilt shop in Buda, Texas and I bought 20 of them.

 I hadn't been making quilts very long and I didn't know what to make with them so they sat for a long time and when I saw the Chandelier quilt pattern, I thought they would be a good fit. So in 2018, I finally started making blocks. I used this crackle print as a background for a rustic feel, but then I ran out of it and I just let the unfinished top sit in the back of the closet.

I finally decided to just pull something close from my stash to finish it off

Then it sat again because I couldn't decide on a backing and I was determined to use something from my stash. I have always loved this print, but I didn't have enough so I used what I had for a strip down the middle and added a green gingham to each end.

Sandy quilted it with a design called Dusty Miller

And I bound it with a green from my stash

It's just a small lap size at  61" x 61"

We've been so busy with other projects that I didn't get a garden in this year so a quilted garden is all I have to harvest.

Catalina Salad

This has been a family favorite for close to 30 years. I don't even remember where it came from. I've served it as a side dish for barbecue and grilled chicken, but we often just make a meal out of it. It was requested on Sunday and made a perfect addition to our fried fish dinner.

And, no, it does not photograph well, but I promise it tastes better than it looks. 😂

Catalina Salad

I large hd Iceberg lettuce, torn into pieces

Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese

Diced tomato

1 can Ranch-style beans

Fritos

Catalina dressing

*And yes, I know that there are no measurements. This is one of those recipies where you just measure with your heart. 😉

This can't really be made ahead of time because the beans and dressing will make the Fritos soggy so only make as much as you think you will eat.

Father's Day Fish Fry

 On Sunday I wanted to celebrate the incredible Dads in our family and DH suggested a fish fry. A few weeks ago he had gone to visit his younger brother in Texas and he took him fishing

We figured Sunday was a good day to taste test their catch. Our son and his family came in the morning so the boys could work on fence. Yes, they worked on Father's Day. LOL. My in-laws came too and then we put the boys to work as the official fish fryers

E kept everyone entertained as we put the finishing touches on dinner

Around here it's all hands on deck to keep everyone fed

The menu included fried fish, hush puppies (my 1st attempt was successful), corn on the cob, cole slaw and Catalina Salad 

with Summer Berry Pie for dessert.

I got busy and forgot to take more pictures, but I'm always so grateful for time spent with family.

Jungle Jam Quilt

 Today I've got a baby quilt finish to share. It started with this bright jungle print I've had in my stash for over a decade. 

It's a magical jungle with unicorns and dinosaurs and walruses and horses mixed in with typical jungle animals, but when you're little, anything goes and I thought it was a cute print with fun primary colors. Plus, I remember it was in the clearance bin of 1 yard cuts at the local quilt shop. The backing stripe also came from the same bin.

I just pulled fabrics from my stash for the coordinating fabrics. Sandy used a fun variegated thread and quilted it using a design called Quirky.

I actually pieced the top probably 6 or 7 years ago, but I wasn't thrilled with the design and it sat in the back of the closet until last month. When I packed it as we moved last fall, I decided it was time to finish it.

It's 40 x 40, smaller than I usually make.

Our little local library is staffed entirely by volunteers and supported 100% by the thrift store next door, but they welcome donations that they raffle off so I'm thinking I'll donate this little quilt to them.