A little refreshment on a summer's eve

We seem to finally have summer here. A few false alarms but I think its for real this time. The weather has turned hot so quickly it hasn't really given time to climatize ourselves. I took Grace to drop her off at her week long camp today and when I got home, Tony had dinner ready which was sooo nice! By the time we finished dinner, it was pretty hot and stuffy up here. We migrated down to the backyard armed with our iced green tea lemonade. Oh, how refreshing it was! Sure makes me thankful for all the hard work Tony does in the yard! The iced green tea lemonade was just the perfect thing to top off a lovely sit down in the back yard. It is so simple and quick I thought I would share this so you too can be refreshed. Not much to it, just some frozen lemonade concentrate, green tea and a couple of containers to mix it all in.
Start off with brewing double strength tea. Usually I do 2 teabags in this tea pot so I put 4 in for this drink.
Dump the still frozen lemonade into the juice container. Make sure it is strong enough to handle some rather warm liquid being poured into it. I have used this container a lot so I know it will do the job.
After the tea has brewed for a good 15 minutes or so, slowly, very slowly, pour it over the frozen lemonade. After about half of it is in, I give it a bit of a break for a few minutes and then add the rest just as slowly.

Top it off with lots of icecubes and enjoy! If you wanted you could always use a flavoured tea, experiment with your favorite herb teas. Live dangerously and throw a few mint sprigs in too!

A Bunting we will go!

It looks like its time for a party here! Look at how festive and fun this bunting is! Marnie sent the fabric down yesterday for her custom bunting for her market tent. It is a simple project, nothing terribley complicated, however... time consuming! This went together rather smoothly. I just love the way these fabrics look all done up like this! I see these things done up on blogs and other crafty sites and always marvel at how wonderfully festive it looks. I made up a template, then cut each triangle out of the fabric. Sewed the pieces, right sides togehter, trimmed up the point and turned it the right way. Pressed it, then trimmed the top edge which was left open. Then, they were sewn in between this black bias tape. It will look as nice from the back as it does from the front!
It is a pretty long piece here! I felt a little like I was wrestling with an octopus during the final construction phase! There are 26 flags that are 8 inches wide at the top each and about 2 inches between flags. hhmm, I need to do the math. I hope Marnie is as happy with it as I am . I can just imagine how pretty it will look all done up on her tent with all her colourful hair accessories! I can hardly wait to see the pictures of it all done up!

Sometimes I like to play

There seems something so surreal about this daisy. I am contemplating framing it big for above my fireplace for a change of scenery. What do you think?

An old park and new friends

I can't beleive its been a whole week since I last posted! I started out with the resolve to post every day! I fell off th wagon when my computer started acting up, it still has to go in to the hospital too. It is having a good moment right now so I am taking advantage of it!
On Sunday I was invited out by a few ladies from the photography club to go take pictures at Bright Angel park. I love that park and go there a lot on my own. It seems like such a novelty cause it has a really cool suspension bridge to walk across the river. We treaded on new territory though as I always turn left after the bridge, this time we went straight! It was great getting out with some new friends who have the same passions as me. It was so encouraging to be with other people who get as much of a charge pressing the shutter release button as I do! I was surprised that most of the flowers that were in bloom were white. I guess I need to go back in a few weeks and see if different colours are popping up.
I think this is a hover fly. It looks kinda like a bee though doesn't it? I am seriously craving a nice macro lens after this trip! I love macro photography anyways so one is deffinately in my future. I am putting that 100.00 climate action check towards a macro lens!
We were gone all day but I am sure we all could have been there even longer, never running out of neat things to find through the viewfinder.

Just look at the dedication of these 2 getting right down and dirty to get just the right shot!

Pink Dogwood

The pink dogwood is one of my favorite flowering trees and I have wanted one in the front yard for the longest time. Driving around they always catch my attention as the most beautiful trees around. Last year we finally went and hunted for one and quickly learned that there are many varieties available. So of course, it required a trip to Dinter's Nursery as they have the biggest variety and most knowlegable people around. After a while of wandering the aisles of different types, I narrowed in on this one. It is about hhmm 7 feet tall. The first year we had it in, there was only a few blooms. I savored each one! I don't think this picture does justice to how many blooms cover the tree this year. It looks like its 50% leaves and 50% flowers. Each time I turn the corner to come home, I am struck by the intensity of the pink and the sheer volume of it!
The pink is a deeper pink that most pink dogwoods I see around here. It is actually referred to as a 'red' dogwood. I was cautioned that they can be picky and not do well around here. They do seem to have made themselves at home now.

Just look at that pink!! It almost looks fake! This just has to be my favorite feature in our yard now. I have to hold myself back from cutting off a branch to bring into my living room! Maybe in a few years after its better established I can really get the full impact indoors agasint my green living room walls! OOO I can see it now:)

New Pouches on the horizon

It was quite an unusual day around here in that I managed to complete TWO projects! We (meaning Thia and I) started our day off wandering around Walmart finding things for Grace and her big night tonight. (Grade 7 recognition!) It is surprising how time consuming that kinda thing is! We even had to find shoes for her as the ones that we thought would work, won't. I bought 2 of each thing and we will see what doesnt work and then take those back. I sure hope something works!! She's so picky and sensative that who knows.... Anyways, back to 2 completed projects... This first one is made using some fat quarters that I got at the satin moon in Victoria. I just adore the print and colours! The pouch is made super handy by 2 inside pockets and a wrist strap that is securely sewn in place with triple seams. I was on such a roll from finishing that pink and green one that I just kept sewing! I had purchased a charm pack a few weeks ago and just loved all the colours in it. At first I thought it would make a beautiful baby quilt with chenille as the alternating squares.

That idea got replaced with this one rather quickly. I cut the charm squares in half and sewed them back together. I just adore the way it turned out! It took a total of 6 squares including the handle. I put two pockets layered in this one for bankcard /id type things. I really like the way the light blue zipper turned out. At first I was going to use a light pink one but opted for this blue instead and I am sure glad that I did! The lining fabric is some quilting stuff that I liked with this pack, it did not come with the charm packs:)
Just look at the way those seams matched up! I am so happy with the way this turned out!

Flower Blob

My latest entry into the etsy world. It is using the same fabrics as its cousin the bird wristlet but sports a blobbish looking flower instead. On the side there is a ribbon with a keychain so you can clip this pouch to the inside of a larger totebag or purse. Again, I have been workin it with applique too! Of course there is a pocket inside for your id or bank card. I think this has to be one of the handiest sizes of pouches out there!