Salute to a Classic

I have decided to come clean about my love of hot dogs. I know, I know, the stories that go on about what is in them, the ordinary-ness of them, the kid-ness of them, they're oh-so-very plain, really. And yet - I can't go to a barbecue and NOT have one!! I love them - I used to be embarrassed by it, but now the hot-dog lover in me is ignoring my inner health nut and I am declaring:

I LOVE HOT DOGS!!

So in honor of BBQ season and my love of them I dedicate this post to the all-American hot dog.

Here is a video from the National Hot Dog Council (what? people get PAID to promote hot dogs?). I am especially pleased to hear them address the proper use (or non-use) of ketchup on a dog. Side-note: I like mine with plain yellow mustard and some sweet relish.

Okay, so there you have it, from the experts. Now, another interesting bit. America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Illustrated are my current favorite recipe destinations. They just did a piece ranking hot dogs with their panel of tasting experts. Read about which dogs are the best HERE.

Gardening Epiphany

I hadn't checked on my garden in a couple of weeks. It's been raining A LOT. I was sure everything was ruined. I went out to check on my little plants the other day and everything has shot up!

My dill has grown about 3 feet tall and the cucumber "bushes" turned out to be vines with 10 blossoms each. The cherry tomatoes are flowering and there is some fruit on them already. Along with the jalepenos - whose leaves look yellow but are bearing fruit nonetheless. Even my seeds that I sprouted in the ground (poppies, zinnias, cosmos and beets) are doing well.

The epiphany is this: Put them in the ground, let it rain and ignore them and they'll still do their job!!

I rearranged a few of the plants, moved them to a different square so that I can get my tomato plants this week. I also need to build my trellis for the cukes and tomatoes. top row: (R-L) marigolds, lavender, dahlia yellow, dahlia pink
2nd row: zinnias, cleared for basil (sprouting), beets, cherry tomatoes
3rd row: dill, tarragon, poppies and cosmos, jalepenos
bottom row: cleared for tomato, cuke, tomato, cuke

Adrenaline High

No I didn't run a marathon, sky dive, or have a near-death experience. I bought some new fabric today! When I was at the dentist last week a couple of the hygenists were admiring my bag (see previous post). I left the office with clean teeth and two orders for bags.

I've decided that I'm going to use different fabric for each bag that I make, because picking the fabric is half the fun! Plus, then each bag is truly a one-of-a-kind piece. They were totally excited and wanted me to pick out the fabric, they just told me what colors they liked. So I went to my new favorite fabric store that sells Amy Butler, Moda and Michael Miller designs and I got some of each! It was so fun! Here are the combo for the bags. The outside fabric is on the left and the lining on the right.

Amy Butler Nigella collection - I may actually buy more of this and make new bedding, I love it too much to just make a bag to sell. I may make the bag and just keep it!! (Is it ethical to price things higher because I don't want to part with it?)

Moda Flutterby collection - this just strikes the right notes with me

Michael Miller - not sure the collection name but I really like the fun, bright, whimsical nature of this. Plus I think the border print will work up really well for the bag.

It's Finished!!!

I was having a hard time with the strap for this thing, but after about 7 attempts, I think I finally got it right. Then there was a small hiccup with the inside piece being just a tad too big because of the interfacing. So a few stitches later and some top stitching around the top and Voila! It's done and I love it! The only thing left to do is scotch guard it. I don't want it getting all dirty!

Like I said before this is an AMY BUTLER print. Her designs are so fresh and happy! I can't wait to buy more of her fabric. More to come. . .

Green Thumb? We'll see!

I don't know if you have heard of Square Foot Gardening, but it's AWESOME!! Basically, you harvest more in less space by using a 4 square foot planter box that you fill with a special mix of peat moss, vermiculite, and compost. His book is easy to read and he explains everything very well.

I tried to start last year. I even thought I wrote about it, but my attempt was pretty unsuccessful (except for a few strawberries and one box frame that I built) . I blame it on being pregnant last spring and summer - I didn't want to do ANYthing.... So this year I decided I was really going to tackle it and not put it off.

DAY ONE
This is what I had from last year: a small box of strawberries and an unfilled box. I bought all of my soil supplies and went to work.This is what we had by the time we got all the ingredients mixed together. It took a little bit longer than I thought it would. Good thing it was nice out that day and I had a good helper, a 2 year old that loves to play in dirt.

DAY TWO
This morning I marked off my grids and added more soil to my strawberry box, thinned them out and replanted them. In my bigger box I planted the two dahlias that I bought. I wanted something to be growing already so I would feel like I could SEE that I had made progress.

I'm feeling very pleased so far. I've started to sprout a bunch of flowers and some vegetables. I'm going to plant tomatoes (of course!), jalepenos, garlic, beets, beans, peas, basil, cilantro, tarragon, thyme, oregano and who knows what else. I might even try cucumbers and carrots. I hope I'm not taking on too much. But I have another box to fill, and really, there is so much space to grow in. Good thing I have people to share it with. I'm having grand dreams of a lush, beautiful, flower and vegetable filled garden. To be continued.....

For all you Jane Austen fans out there

I'm not sure how accurate this is. I like the bit where it says I'm extremely attractive - certainly don't feel that way with the black circles under my eyes! Funny too - I just finished reading this for the first time - and watching the movie for the 10th.


You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice! You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Take the Quiz here!

In My Own Backyard

I love SPRING!! I took these pictures on our walk last Friday.

Flowering Plum

Flowering Cherry

These are a little fuzzy because he wouldn't let me get too close. But this was just down the street from my house! I zoomed in with photoshop to get a better look. These birds are all over down here. I forget how close I am to the Potomac.