Square One

I am aware that this square isn't exactly a gnome and I'm not sure if
it'll make it into the quilt ot not, but I'm really happy with it and
wanted to share. I actually drew the pattern myself... there's just
nothing quite like flowers in a mason jar!

Photo Update

Ok, so here are the photos to go along with the last post... Sorry about that, but better later than never! Now you can see my fabric spread for the gnome-quilt!

Alright, so I'm still trying to figure out this whole "blogging from
my phone" thing... and I realize that there were no photos attached to
the last post. I'll try to either figure this way out or just upload
once I get home... Oh technology...

Thanks!
Amanda
---
Sent from my iPhone :)

The latest Gnome-based project...

I'd like to first start with an apology for being so absent in my
posting... With all the wedding planning craziness and my wacky work
schedule, I just haven't had time for much of anything else. Yet,
somehow in the midst of my crazy life, I have recently decided to
start a rather large project. Why, you may ask... because I need
something to do while I'm on the phones at work walking people through
easy stuff like programming a phone or waiting for a system to re-
boot. You know, easy stuff ;)

Anyway, I have discovered that the absolute BEST way to keep myself
occupied is to stitch. So, that got me thinking (uh-oh, here she goes
again...) I like the stitching and it's a great time passer, but what
would I do with the things I stitch? I don't need more stuff to hang
on the walls and I certainly don't want to shove my work in some
drawer. My briliant idea...? A quilt! I have no clue how long all of
this will take me... a few months, a year, who knows, but I've decided
to post my progress here!

Now on to the good stuff... It wasn't all that long ago that I got my
first gnome (Thaddeus, for those who don't remember.) Well, now I have
20 in various shapes and sizes, as well as socks and pj pants. What
I've done is printed a photo of each gnome in one of three sizes,
drawn an outline to make the pattern, and transferred the images to a
variety of fabric pieces. I'm also going to stitch a few other
accenting designs - woodland creatures, toadstools, etc. to go along.
Then I'm planning to stitch each piece together with some matching
fabrics, making one, super-awesome gnome quilt!

Ok, so here are a few photos of my fabric spread. I'll be posting
updates as I go, so check back and see what gnome I'm stitching next!

Happy Gnome-ing!
Amanda
---
Sent from my iPhone :)

The Apple Store

I'm standing in the Easton Apple Store right now waiting for Ben to get his battery warranted, and as I stand here noodling around with a 21.5" iMac, I just had to make a post and say how much I want one of these! Don't get me wrong, I do deeply love my 15" MacBook Pro, and I even miss my little 13" PowerMac that is Ben's now... but having a desktop with this level of awesomeness would be AMAZING.

Just saying.

Happy Spring!
Amanda

Still here... promise.

So I'm sitting here with Ben watching Julie & Julia... finally. I've been wanting to see this movie since it came out and just a few days ago it came in that lovely red NetFlix envelope. I will be the first to admit that in the first few minutes of watching the movie, I immediately identified with Julie... even down to the computer she has (at the point in time the movie is set, I had the same one.) Anywho, I felt compelled -and guilted- into trying to get caught up on the whole "blogging thing". I've been bad... so sorry.

I've been terrible at keeping up on this, and given the recent inspiration, I vow to try better... tomorrow.

First real post in ages tomorrow! Until then...

Happy everything!
Amanda   :)

happy!

I have very happy news to share... Ben proposed yesterday and we're engaged!

We were supposed to go sailing at Hoover yesterday, but the weather was just too cold and wet, so we opted to pack up the boat and be all ready to head up to Mansfield for the regatta Friday night instead. I had just finished sponging all the water out of the boat when Ben started to take the spreaders off of the mast and "dropped a piece" in the gravel. Knowing that I'm usually the one that finds stuff in the gravel, I got an "Amanda... come help me find this thingy..." When I walked around to the other side of the boat I found him on one knee with a ring and he did it... "Will you marry me?" I didn't even say anything, I just kissed him - then I said yes. I was completely surprised and it was totally unexpected. I am *very* happy -- It was perfect! (I had a hunch he'd do it in/near/around the boat...)

Here's a picture of the ring:

It's my mom's original engagement ring. She upgraded at some point when I was really little and (except for in their wedding photos) I don't think I have ever actually seen this ring. I'm really happy that Ben decided to go this route rather than buying a new ring. I like the sentiment with this one... plus it's been living in a safe for 20 years, so why not? It's very different and unique which is right up my alley. I love having things that I know no one else will ever have.

Yesterday was a great day and I am one happy girl! I love Ben so much, I would shout it from the rooftops... I can't wait to be his wife. :)

Happy EVERYTHING!
Amanda

Gardening Progress

So... there's really not that much to write about right now, but I have lots of pictures. Here's the latest shot of the garden:

The gigantic stakes look really ridiculous right now, but I figured it'd be easiest to put them in now instead of later when the plants are bigger.


Unfortunately my pumpkin seedlings that were growing so strong, didn't make it through the transplant. I opted to sow some seeds directly into the bed rather than start them in pots. I had just enough bike wheel rims to edge the bed and put the ones with spokes in the middle - Hopefully they'll act as supports for the future pumpkins.


A few of the Brussels Sprouts didn't fare so well, but the ones that did are going strong! It's too bad it takes so long for the sprouts to really get going... we want to eat them now.



There have been a few changes to the potted plants... There were too many basil plants in the big red pot, so I split it up and put a few in the big blue pot. The basil, cilantro, and thyme (all on the orange chair) were started from seed and are going strong. The sage (below the orange chair) is also from seed and doing well. I decided I wanted more cilantro so I plopped a few seeds in the mosaic pot. I figured if I want to make salsa this summer, it can't hurt to have more cilantro. The oregano in the little green pot is a little slow, but it's going, and I decided to plant two hot pepper seeds in each of the other two pots. We'll just wait and see what happens there.




(That's a tomatillo... I realize the stick is a little faded already.)




The radishes are growing like crazy - both plots!


Look how big the beans are!


The peas are going nuts too!


We've been eating fresh lettuce in salads almost every night. That's a spring/summer treat you really can't beat!


This little cuke is loving life... so much so, he's already got a little baby growing!

All-in-all, things are growing pretty well. I've been feeding everything a good dose of root-building food once a week, so hopefully they're bouncing back ok.

Until next time, Happy Gardening!
Amanda

Pretty Little Things

I thought I'd detour from the veggies and share a few photos of some of the flowers in the garden... They're pretty and make me smile, hopefully they'll make you smile too!

My newest favorite: The Icelandic Poppy

(It's really cool... the plant produces different colored flowers in the same plant so you really don't know what you're going to get.)

Longtime favorite: The Bleeding Heart

This climbing rose was a pleasant surprise, and they smell wonderful!

Why do you build me up...

Buttercup, baby, just to let me down...


Thanks for the impatients Mom, they're doing nicely!


I have to thank our neighbor, Nora for having such pretty peonies on the fence that we share.

This spring, stop and smell the flowers. You might like what you find!

Happy Gardening!
Amanda

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A big welcome and hello to spring from The Gnomes!
Sunshine, we've missed you!