my first real quilt

i'd been wanting to make a real quilt for a long time.

real as in... pieced, and batted, and quilted together.

(ive made rag quilts before, but they are a little less complex.)

my sister got married in march last year.

a quilt!  handmade with love.

i think that would make a perfect wedding gift.

we went out and got the fabric right away.

and finally put it together. in november.

while 8 months pregnant :)

a fun swirly stitch in red.

the top.

the back.

it's by all means imperfect.

the kids helped with pinning, and unpinning.

and pushing the sewing pedal, and laying out pieced strips on the floor.

dave helped stretch and tape down and pin the layers together.

all 4 (5) of us helped put it together with lots of love.

so i guess that does make it quite perfect.

packed tight in a box and mailed to brooklyn to its new home.

my favorite of the fabrics is the one i call peacock.

i reserved some to make a nursing cover :)

which has already been put to good use.

i'm itching to make another quilt.

someday :)

cream of broccoli soup

i'm pretty sure this is my most favorite soup. ever.
my dad's cream of broccoli soup.
i loved when dad would make it while i was growing up.
now i get to make it myself.
and i make it a lot now that soup season is here :)
i don't mind one bit!  (neither does dave, i think it's one of his favorites too.)

Cream of Broccoli Soup
http://itsmejen.blogspot.com/

12 oz. of frozen broccoli (or 2 or 3 heads of fresh chopped broccoli)
Cook broccoli in 3 to 4 cups of water, add 4 chicken bouillon cubes
Add 1 cup of chopped celery
Add 1 cup of chopped onions
Add 1 cup of diced ham.
Simmer for 30 minutes

In a separate pan Make Roux:
Melt ½ cup butter and ½ cup of margarine
Add 1 cup all-purpose flour
Mix until well blended
Add 6 cups milk to broccoli/veggie/broth mixture.
Add roux to soup mixture and stir until thick over medium heat.
Add 1 tsp pepper and salt to taste.

enjoy!! yum.

where has all the blogging gone?

the blogging has fallen by the wayside.
though i still think about it a lot.
i wish i posted as much as i used to.
recipes. and crafts. and vides. and conversations.

i said i wouldnt join facebook, in fear of not blogging anymore.
i was right.
the ease of facebook (and the less amount of time i have now) is keeping me from blogging.

and then i went and joined pinterest.
another (fun) waste of my time.
but, we need to have some fun, right?

here are a few pics to share for those of you who are blog only readers :)

 the little man is already a month old.

where can i find more time?