It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Summer

That "summer feel" is finally here.  I was beginning to think it wasn't coming this year.  I have been working in my flower gardens a little and I only have 13 days of school left before my summer break.  I can't wait!  My husband and I are starting to take walks after dinner.  That is something I need to try to keep up.  I am looking forward to fishing and riding our four wheelers down to the river.  We bought a brand new canoe to fish out of last year and never put it in the water.  Hopefully we can do that this year. 

Creatively, I accomplished quite a bit this past week.  Once again, One Yard Wonders drew me in and I was sewing from its well-read pages.  I LOVE that book!  I know you know that about me!  I covered my table top ironing board using the method in the book.  I made a pattern from my board.   My board is oddly shaped.  It was given to me by my Mom years ago.  I used it alot before I had a craft room.  It was easier to set up than the big ironing board.  The back of my board is wood and it has feet, not a metal frame like the ones you would purchase these days.  

Anyway, I made a casing and used cording and one of those cord stoppers you can purchase in a craft or sewing store.  The fabric I used was one I found at JoAnn with two of my favorite things on it-sewing and cats!  I love that fabric.  I had a good chunk left from the one yard so I am trying to think what else I can do with it.                                                                      

I also made some amazing cherry chocolate scones with a sour cream topping.  You put 2 cups of flour, 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder, and 1/3 cup sugar  and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Cut in 5 tablespoon cold butter in cubes until the mixture is crumbs.  Stir in 1/4 cup dried cherries and 1/4 cup milk chocolate chips.  (I used cherry juice infused dried cranberries because that is all I could find) Stir in 1/2 cup buttermilk(or milk you sour with a capful of white vinegar and let sit) and a splash of almond extract.   Turn the dough out onto a floured board and pat into a disc.  Slice the disc pizza-style into 12 wedges.  Transfer the wedges onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Give the wedges room to expand and puff up.  Brush with half and half and sprinkle with raw sugar crystals if desired.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.  Meanwhile, take 1 cup of sour cream and add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar and a bit of vanilla.  Mix well and serve along side of the warm scones.  These are perfect on a lazy Sunday morning.  My wedges are never perfect and I like the rustic look of them.  Enjoy! 

I will leave you with some words on a purchase I made recently.  Me being the "gadget queen", I can't resist when I see something like this in a catalog.  It is made by Fiskars and it is a 12 in 1 multi tool.  The best price I could find was at Amazon where it was under $11.  I like the convenience of reaching for one tool that does so much.  The measuring tape only goes to 20 something and has to be manually wound back up but I like the versatility of the other tools.  I proceeded to immediately lose the mini tweezers down my register grate but hubs says he can get them back for me next time he goes under our house! If you purchase it, be mindful of where the thread cutter is, it has a pretty sharp blade and I provoked a slight cut by openly going after the blade wondering what it was because it is on the outside of the case on the very top!

I hope everyone has a great week.  Do something that you love whether it is cooking, gardening, sewing or whatever!  Take care.  Nancy