Tournament Time -- Round Rock w/Bekah and Jacob

It is Labor Day weekend and that means the start of fall is upon us.  Along with that comes the start of soccer season and invitational tournaments.  We are off to Round Rock to spend a couple of days with Jen and watch some awesome games.  I love these road trips.

Since we have gotten a late start today, we arrive in Austin in early evening and meet up with Jen, Jon, and Bekah at The Outback for dinner.  Then it is off to the hotel where we all share a room for the evening.  Jon is lucky enough to get some solo time in the pool before bed and Bekah relaxes on the sofa with Winnie and her puter.  It is time to sleep as we have an early morning with early soccer games.

After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we are off to the soccer fields.  Bekah's first game is at 8 and we settle in comfortably on the sideline.  It is a great game and her team wins it handily.

The temperature has definitely risen and once the girls are released from the game, we go over to Academy Sports and pick up "stuff" for Bekah's various activities.

After shopping, we drop Bekah back off at the field and do a little browsing of our own.  We grab a simple snack and head over to Hobby Lobby where I am able to pick up a few things I need for my upcoming quilt classes.  Back to the game.

Bekah's team has sat out in the heat between games and it shows in the next game.  Although they start out leading, the other team closes the gap and takes the win.  The game tomorrow will now determine whether they continue on in the tournament.  It is time for lunch and then watch Jacob's second game.  (Louis, Jacob, Jared, and Josh drove in this morning and attended his first game which his team won easily.)

We meet at Torchy's Tacos for lunch and you can tell from the picture below that we have two very tired athletes.

We stay at the restaurant as long as we can before Jacob has to be at the field.  It is nice and cool in there and no one is in a hurry to get back into the heat.  Mister really wanted this picture to just include Jen and the sign above.  That would have been dang cute - or "damn good" as the sign says.

Once we arrive at the field, I set up under a tree to wait out the hour before the game while working on my bonus triangles from my Lazy Sunday quilt.  The dog ears needed to be cut off on all 310 squares.  Great handwork to keep me busy.

Time for the game.  All the sewing gets put away and we move out into the hot sun to watch Jacob's team once again control the field and walk away with another win.  I love this sequence of pictures - and the sucked in cheeks too.  Memories of Karate Kid come forward.

We are able to get some great shots of the game and I will just let them tell their own stories.

Happy Dance at the end of the game.  Perfect.

Once the game is over, we have a long drive back to Dallas so we say our good-byes and begin the journey home.  What a great couple of days.

Update:  Bekah's' team took first place in her division and Jacob's team took second after a shootout.  Way to go both of you.

Working on my Lazy Sunday Quilt

I spent New Years Day in the first quilting class I have ever had the pleasure of taking.  The instructor was Bonnie Hunter and the quilt was a mystery.  I only got into the class by the skin of my teeth because someone cancelled the day before.  Now, during my move to Texas I had drastically reduced my "stuff" and had given most of my fabric stash away.  The class gave a color list and amounts although it was supposed to come from scraps.  Not having any scraps, Mister and I went to a local quilt shop and selected some bright batiks in the requested colors.

The class was a blast and I learned oh so much.  It has taken me most of the year to get the blocks together, but finally I am making some progress.  I am able to lay out my strips in the studio and get an idea of what is happening here.  I still have border pieces EVERYWHERE but at least it appears as though it might become a quilt at some point.

We have rearranged the studio at least twice during this project and I am about to do so again.  Ugh.

After spending most of the day sewing away -- I am able to lay out ALL the strips and have the sashing sewn as well.  I have to take it into the house and use the living room floor in order to have a large enough space, but I can finally see the pattern taking place.


This color scheme is waaaay outside my comfort zone, but as it comes together I am liking it more and more.  My goal is to have it finished, learn how to long arm quilt it and take it to this years class on New Years Day again to show.  I hope I can make it.

The purple border pieces on the ironing board above used a technique that gave me bonus half square triangles on each end.  That made 310 new squares to work with on another project that would have otherwise gone into the trash.  Fun.  I took them with me to Austin for the soccer tournament and between games, cut the dog ears off.  I call that devotion to a project.

It is so good to be back at the machine after all these years.  I am lovin' life and lovin' my new vintage machines as well.  Now to find more of them.

A New Featherweight -- woohoo!

Oh My Gosh!! Isn't she beautiful?  This is my new baby. Her name is Barbara for the lady across the street.  When she passed, the estate sale had 15 of these lovely's and I managed to get one.  I feel so blessed.  These pics are after my sweetie took her all apart and cleaned EVERYTHING.  What  a treat.

Feeling Like Fall is Around the Corner - Time For a Pot Roast

Okay - so here's the honest truth:  I have NEVER in my 55 years cooked a decent pot roast like my mother can.  My hat has been off to her in that department for many, many years.  I've been mentioning lately that I would like to try again and Mister walks in from grocery shopping with a roast in the bag.  I guess it is time to give it another effort.

I go to pioneerwoman.com and find some information.  Here goes nothing.  The fact that I have not been able to do this is such a thorn in my side that Mister decides to add to the agony and take pictures the whole way through.

Step 1:  I choose to do this in our cast iron pot.  Heat some olive oil until very hot and then brown onions and carrots.  Remove them, leaving all the wonderful gooey goodies in the bottom of the pan.

Step 2:  Sear the pre-seasoned roast on both sides and the edges.  Remove it from the pan -- even more goodies on the bottom now.  Add some red wine and start to deglaze the bottom of the pan.  Once most of the delicious morsels are loose, add about a cup of beef broth.

Step 3:  Add the roast and vegies back in.  Put in a bundle of herbs and add another 1-2 cups of beef broth.  Put the lid on and place it in a 275 degree oven for 3 hours for a 3 lb. roast.

OMG -- this house smells incredible within a half an hour.  I cannot wait.  No peeking though.  When time is up, open and see the wonderful creation.  Remove herb sprigs and serve.

I made some mashed potatoes to go along with -- yep, this is perfect.  I think I am in heaven eating it.  Will definitely do this again in a month or so.  The meat just falls apart and is oh so tender.  Top everything off with some of the gorgeous, dark broth and this is what I remember.  Finally.

The Grass is Blooming --- A Thing of Beauty

The ornamental grass out front has been growing about a foot a day right now.  Mister commented that he thought he could stand in the yard and watch it grow.  He's probably pretty accurate.  The plumes just opened a couple of days ago.  Beautiful.

Peach Jam -- From Our Own Peaches

We have enjoyed our fresh peaches this past week, but they are rapidly ripening and I need to do something with them.  Enter peach jam.  Soooo yummy and pretty.

This is the outcome of my work this morning -- two hours and 14 containers.  Oh, and a peach pie to boot.  Can I keep this productive day going?

Time With Jared - Days 5 & 6

Someone does not wish to get up today.  I wonder who that could be.  You would think it was Jared but you would be wrong.  It is me.  Grandpa took this picture right before he and Jared got dressed and left me in a quiet house to gain some much needed beauty sleep.  (It was a rough night last night.)  Are you wondering where they are?  Well, so am I until I walk out to the kitchen and discover this.  I love it.

When they return, I am up and we all sit down to play a few more games of Wacky Six.  We had played last night with Aunt Cass and had such a good time, we want to keep going.

Jared has been reading a book the whole time he has been here and is getting to the end of it.  He wants to go and see if we can find the next one in the series.  We give Half Price Books a try and are unable to find the book but do find another couple books for him to enjoy.  The fact that my grandchildren love books thrills me.  Ah, to fall into another land for awhile when reading -- it is like a mini-vacation.

The heavens have just let loose around here --- goodness -- open the doors and windows and let that wonderful smell of rain in the house.  Or --- go outside and enjoy the downpour.  Cass and Jared went outside to sit on the bench and watch.  Within moments, they were running and giggling as they were being soaked from the wind sending the drops right at them as they sat.  It is a great end to our day.  Dinner time and some relaxation.  We have to get the laundry  done and repack as we have to return Jared to his family tomorrow.  Wow -- these 5 days have flown by.

It is an early start for us to meet up with Jen in Hillsboro as she has just a small window of free time to make the trip.  Once we are all dressed, I ask Jared for a few pictures as we didn't really get to do a photo shoot while he was here.  He says yes and so after I pick out his clothes and Grandpa does his hair, we are ready.  Here are our results:

Of course, I have to get one with me.  Tradition, you know.

Then he starts having a little fun with it --

Time to go.  This has been a fun week.  Can't wait to do it again.  Love ya Jared.