California Nine Patch

When my kids were in middle school and high school, the week before Labor Day usually meant scrambling to gather enough school supplies and school clothes to start the year. Often it meant a few glorious days with their cousins at Bear Lake. It almost always meant cooler days and chilly morning walks. This year is a bit different. Sure, the trees up in the canyons are starting to change colors. There are back-to-school sales in all the stores. But the abnormally hot summer weather doesn’t show any sign of leaving. I, for one, am ready to see it go. I’m ready to trade in my sandals for sneakers and cotton socks. I’m ready to enjoy using my oven for roasting and baking good things. And I’m more than ready to start seeing electric bills that don’t reflect an over-active air conditioner.

Time in a Bottle

I submitted in my entry for the Utah State Fair Quilt Challenge this morning. I was there early, but several of my fellow quilters had already turned in their efforts. The Home Arts Building was bustling with people submitting jars of homemade jam, bread and butter pickles, handmade lace, hand-knitted sweaters, and quilts. There were so many quilts. I’m by no means sure of a ribbon in this competition. I feel it’s a good representation of my work; the design, the  piecing, the quilting and even the binding are just about the best I’ve ever done. But I’m afraid I’m up against quilters who could easily put me to shame. So I’ll cross my fingers and hope for the best. Whether I get any kind of recognition at all, I can at least be proud that I finished it in time, and that I did my very best.

Reverse Silk Circle

How to Be a Financial Failure – by life coach Kim Giles

1. Don’t invest in yourself. Don’t get a good education. Don’t read, take self-improvement courses, or learn what you can about your profession. Do the minimum to get by.

2. Spend everything you make. If you earn $25,000, spend $25,000. If you make $250,000, spend $250,000. You deserve to enjoy yourself now. The future will take care of itself.

3. Refuse to take responsibility for yourself. Blame your employer, the economy, or the high cost of living. Soon you’ll even begin to believe your excuses.

4. Wait for the best time to begin saving. When you’re in school, wait until you graduate. When you graduate, wait until you buy your first home. Before you know it you’ll be in your 50's with little or no money.

5. Ignore sound financial principles; gamble what little you have. Pay thousands for seminars where “experts” will teach you the secrets for building wealth. Never mind that one famous expert lost $800,000 trading stocks but made $110,000,000 teaching others to invest.

Yosegi Kaku to Sankaku (Squares and Triangles)

I’m sure you’re familiar with 7-Layer Salads. Here’s a tasty variation on that theme. It’s a big hit every time I make it:

English Seven-Layer Salad

4 peeled carrots, cut into julienne strips

1 small head of butter lettuce (Romaine is a good substitute.)

1 English cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1/2 cup frozen corn

2 cups small seashell pasta, cooked al dente (Not too soft!)

2 cups mayonnaise (It’s more work, but homemade is really the best.)

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon curry powder

1/2  teaspoon kosher (coarse) salt

1 clove garlic, finely minced

1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

Layer the first six ingredients in a trifle bowl in the order listed, so carrots will be on the bottom and pasta on the top. In a small bowl, combine mayo and seasonings; spread carefully over pasta. Top with cheese and refrigerate, covered, for at least an hour to let the flavors blend.

Utah State Fair Quilt Challenge

Every year since 2007 the Utah State Fair has issued a challenge to use a particular fabric in a wall hanging quilt. I’ve submitted entries every year, and two have won blue ribbons. (For my UK friends, a blue ribbon in the US is a first place award. Red ribbons are for second place; the opposite of what you’re used to.) The quilts must be the work of one person, from the design and piecing of the top to the quilting and finish work. Making a challenge quilt every year has pushed me to improve my skills at those aspects of quilt making I would normally leave to someone else. The quilt pictured here was my entry for 2010. You can also see it at the far right of the photo below, from the archives of the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ll submit this year’s quilt next Thursday, and I’ll also post a photo of it here on that day. Wish me luck!