the first cherries of summer

high chair cover

I finally made a pattern for the high chair cover i needed to make (to ensure Ladybug didn't slide right out of the chair!) and... I give it a 6 out of 10.

I used some leftover fabric from a vintage Hawaiian dress for the front and a green-and-white polyester for the back. It was my first time to make a pattern, use batting (of any kind) and use bias tape. I feel like bias tape should be easier than it was for me. Do any of you have any tutorials or suggestions for using bias tape? 

oh, and it's also reversible. my favorite part. :-)

July's garden!

my garden has grown since my last update.

tomatoes

can you see the tiny pepper?

turn red baby! and soon!

beans

basil

jalapenos

harvested garlic. want any??

IKEA love

My dear sweet Dad put up with a trip to IKEA on the way to our Minnesota (fishing) vacation. Bless him times a million! Jeremy and I visited one in Portland several years ago, but there is just something about that place that brings back lots of Swiss/German memories. We made a couple of trips to the one in Zurich to find a few things to make our volunteer quarters homey.

I found 6 postcards in Germany 4 years ago and have wanted them in my kitchen ever since! Finally, I found the perfect frames. About time huh?

I also fell in love with this pitcher. I also decided my mom needed one for her kitchen redo (still working on the decor!).

Finally, I got two cheap frames for some interchangeable art for little lady's room and a tiny vase for my envisioned living room shelf. (That's yet to come.)

:-) Yay for IKEA! I could've spent lots more time, but we made it through in an hour and a half. Phew. What fun! Thanks M&D!

Fishing and Skiing (Minnesota fun!)

what we did.

the view

the captain - with his tootsie pop

fisherman #1

turtles

fishing under the dock

successful bass fishing!

kneeboarding

wiped out and submarined!

skiing - my favorite

glassy waters (and glowing legs)

Our first-ever summer vacation!

Last week we took the girl and drove to Minnesota with my parents to spend a week in a cabin, complete with wood paneling, bear couches, mosquitoes and charcoal grills. With the lake in view we spent our days fishing, waterskiing, napping, eating, watching (HG) TV and playing games. Cribbage was the game of the week, to say the least.

We shared a cabin with these folks:

Ryan and Erin

my parents (Dad, you know you love it.)

Our cabin was the nicest one I've ever stayed in. Four bedroom, two bathrooms and 3 flat screen tvs! Air conditioning for the two 90-degree days that we had and cabin decor to boot. Love it.

wood paneling and a flat screen tv!

bears and fishes furniture

kitchen/dining room

Next up ... what we did! :-)