Likely Story

Birthday Thank You's

Yesterday was my birthday (32) and I just wanted to thank everyone for the awesome gifts!
Always on the quilting front, Bea came through with some excellent supplies and a cute, simple Amy Butler kit.

My friend Rachael also went the awesome craft route with two books I desperately wanted (thanks again!)

Josh, of course, got me exactly what I wanted - an Orla Kiely bag and flowers!!

My mom got me a couple of cool books, a top and a ton fo gift certificates to my favorite lunch places!

And, last but certainly not least, my Dad got me this truly awesome and amazing antique sewing box that even has tiny hidden drawers (I'll never tell where)!!  This thing is sooooo cooooool!  I love it!!!

Thanks again everyone!!! 

Some Things Green and One Thing Sweet

Green things first.  Remember when I said I had planted sticks in the mud in my vague attempt at gardening (which I insist on pursuing at least once a year)?  Well, some sticks have sprouted!  Here we have blackberries and raspberries, quite happy in their containers.  No fruit yet, but there is plenty of time.

Next, you can just make out a strawberry plant peeking around the corner of the deck.  This tiny guy is laden with green berries (and by laden, I mean about a pints worth).  I am very excited.

And Yes, I did wait until it was pouring down rain to take pictures.  I have impeccable timing.  Why do you ask?

Now for something sweet.  Easter is around the corner and we have family coming into town.  This, or course, gives me the perfect excuse to order easter candy from Fowlers Chocolates.  When I was little, we used to get candy from Fowlers every year for Easter.  This is one of the many reasons why - Sponge candy:

There are no words.  Just look. You can choose from dark, milk or orange chocolate which enrobes a core of brown sugar sponge.  It has the consistency of florist foam, but in a good way, that melts against the roof of your mouth leaving behind the deliciously bittersweet taste of butterscotch.  Bliss.....

Progress, Progress, It's Inevitable.

Well, I have been swamped at work, but look - Tree Jacket is actually progressing!  See?

School starts tomorrow - Advanced Bakeshop, every Wednesday from
7 am to 3 pm.  My brother is here (currently on my couch) until Friday.  Work just keeps heating up for the next few months.  I've got a busy year ahead of me. 

What I really need to do is finish this bloody sweater!  I want to knit other things now!  Argh!

NJ/PA Weekend Extravaganza

Well, we have returned from our trip to Ocean City, NJ for J's niece's Bat Mitzvah.  Much Kohr's Brothers was eaten by all.  We got to go into Philly for the day and talk to all of our friends at B&N and meet a few more people for dinner that night.  So that was good.  I got to stop by Loop (eh, not worth it)  and we had drinks at Caribou and dinner at Vietnam, both excellent.  But the BIG FUN THING is this:

Yep.  J's mom taught
me how to quilt and
she gave me her old
machine, a Bernina
1230, which I am
told is super bad ass.

And she helped me
make this for a friend of mine
who just squeezed out a baby girl.

Then she bought
me this so I could
make a new handbag.
So Good!!!