Harvest Time

Yesterday morning this little beauty was ready for harvesting. Having never eaten or grown a white/Lebanese zucchini I was purely judging size by white zucchini I have recently noticed at the supermarket.

The child allocated to dinner prep tonight grated the zucchini and added it to the bolognese he was cooking, as we usually do. We both had a little taste, the zucchini was pleasantly juicy and almost sweet, certainly the best I have ever tasted. I think I will try the next one raw in a salad.

The finished product, on a bed of fresh parsley, basil and pak choi leaves straight from our garden! Yum! I always like to add some grated veges to our bolognese and white zucchini is perfect at hiding with no tell-tale signs of visible colour (for those children who may object). Looks like I have found a new vegetable friend!

Sunday Quote

Sibling Happiness, August 2009 (late Winter)

"It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which gives happiness"

                                                             Thomas Jefferson

Sharing at Little Somethings: Children

Spoilt for Choice

I had a lovely fabric parcel arrive yesterday, and another today. So many lovely fabrics to choose from!

French Journal by Michael Miller Fabrics
1/2 yard of each

French Journal opened

Central Park by Kate Spain
1/4 yard each except the orange on the left (3/8 yard)

Central Park
As above, plus 1 1/2yards of  the light blue

Quite Contrary, My Minds Eye
1/2 yard of each

It's a Hoot (colours are a little darker than they look in this photo)
1/4 yard each

Lots of sewing options ahead! The French Journal fabric and Central Park all have more of a vanilla/ivory base colour than bright white. I really enjoy choosing fabrics and thinking through what to make, although it can be difficult until you actually see and feel the fabric (one disadvantage of online shopping). Each of these recent release designer fabrics worked out at around $10 a yard, including shipping from the US, about half the cost of the same fabric if I could find it locally.

If you live locally and would like to have a look, please let me know. I may even be happy to sell something to you (if I haven't used it) at cost price (plus postage if required). See anything with your name on it???

Early Morning Garden Walk

Dew drops on strawberry leaves

Female zucchini flower

Male zucchini flower

Our first Lebanese zucchini, growing nicely.

A "grasspopper" as Miss E calls them

Hints of summer still with us

May you day be full of snippets of life, colour and joy too!
PS Lunchtime update: all today's zucchini flowers have closed up. They only last a few short hours. Is it any wonder I help play match maker!

Simple yet Beautiful

Soon after I began looking at quilts on the internet I found two quilts made by Ashley of Film in the Fridge which I instantly loved. You can see her versions here. Once I discovered online fabric shops I was able to source the fabrics and make my own, almost identical to Ashley's. A strip quilt is fast and easy to sew and a wonderful way to display larger print fabrics which are often too pretty to cut into little pieces.

Gently stippled all over, both were in constant use last winter in our living rooms. I'm looking forward to pulling them out of the cupboard soon and washing them up ready for another winter of beautiful warmth.

PS Just a day after writing this post Ashley added a brilliant tutorial on making strip quilts. Well worth checking out, they really are very easy to make, making them great choice for a first quilt.