Finished Journey Quilt top

Here it is with the additional border. You can't really see the turquoise squares in the corner b/c it's just so dern big. At first I wasn't sure about the red, but by the time I had put all four borders on, I loved it! Pearl really liked it too.

Journey Quilt and Danny's Shenanigans

I haven't posted anything regarding sewing/quilting in a long time, and I know you've all been waiting with baited breath.

I just (nearly) finished my Journey quilt top. I wanted to get it done before the hus and I drove to Reno in mid-August because once there, I'd like to take this quilt to my favorite quilters who live in Carson City... though they always seem to charge me double what they charge my mother. (This time my mother and I have cooked up a brilliant scheme. We're going to go TOGETHER to drop off our quilts... then we'll see! Then we'll see...)

Here are some pics of this fabulous quilt:

Here's a close-up of the cute corners:

And here are some close-ups of some of my favorite blocks:

The reason I said I (nearly) finished it is because at this size it is just a wee too small for our bed. I'm going to make an extra border out of these fabrics, so stay tuned for more pictures:

While I was having this quilt photo shoot, Danny had some 'splainin' to do! He somehow gets himself stuck under the dresser. This is the second time it's happened... at least while we've been home to hear him growling for help. I'm making it a habit to snap some pictures before giving him any sort of assistance.

He tried to squeeze out by himself:

Then he got frustrated and just stared at me:

Isn't he adorable? Today I let him lick my ice cream cone a few times... it's not so gross after all. As Michael Jackson said on a constantly re-aired documentary special from 2003 with Britain's Martin Bashir regarding adults sharing their bed with friends' children: "That's love... that's love."

Strawberry Cake

Num.

1 package vanilla cake mix
1 3 oz. package strawberry flavored gelatin (only use 1/2 - 2/3 of the package)
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
4 oz. frozen strawberries (or 1 cup chopped fresh strawberries)
1/2 cup buttermilk

1. Thaw and drain the frozen strawberries (if you're using frozen instead of fresh).
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. Combine the cake mix, strawberry gelatin, oil, eggs, flour, strawberries, and buttermilk. Mix until combined. Pour into prepared pan (I made cupcakes).
4. Bake at 350 according to cake box directions. (I baked my cupcakes for 20 minutes)


It's enjoyable, and sometimes embarrassing, to hear reactions of those who try my desserts. This time, my friend Traci enjoyed these cupcakes so much, she said, "Ohhh sh*t!"

July 4th, 2009

Red (Velvet) White and Blue Mini-Cupcakes!
I'm taking these babies to a barbecue tonight.

I finally visited some San Diego Missions

Life with a husband studying for the bar can be really boring. Rather than sit at home over the holiday weekend, I decided to get out my camera and visit some places in San Diego to which I haven't yet been. Whilst my pictures aren't extraordinary, my experience was pretty fun! Yes, I felt like one of those lonely travelers, with my camera around my neck, walking around by myself, but I still enjoyed my time.

Here is a close-up of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala. It is the first mission in California, founded on July 16th, 1769, by blessed Junipero Serra. It was pretty cool. Free, of course, so that made it nice. Apparently it's an active Catholic parish today. There's also a current excavation site right inside the grounds of this mission, so that was fascinating... a big section roped off. They have uncovered old walls and brick flooring about 6 feet underground.

I then headed over to what I guess isn't technically a mission (Well, actually I stopped off at the mall to get some new undies first). It is a museum situated on the original site of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala... but it looks just like a mission. It was cool, but I didn't get to go inside because the museum has been closed since February, and there is no news on when it will re-open. It is called the Junipero Serra Museum. While the first mission was more interesting (I guess just because it was actually open), I'm glad I visited the Museum because you can see this one from one of the major freeways here, and I'd never quite figured out how to get there.
It was a nice afternoon, yet I am no more tan. And it's July. So that's no good. And that's three sentences now that I've started with conjunctions.