We seriously don't know what we were thinking. 
I LOVE still lifes like the one above, found here. Maybe over Christmas break I will finally break out the oil paints and be able to do some lovely fruit paintings of my own!
Here are the completed ornaments for the Swap! They're going out late, but hopefully they will be loved anyway! Merry merry Christmas!
I have about a million photos waiting to be turned into posts, but I keep forgetting to actually sit down and do them. In the meantime, here is a picture of a picture in my office--Nick and I a couple of weeks before we were married last April!
The weather is f i n a l l y lovely enough to have our windows open in the evenings, and, for me, this has stirred up the irresistible impulse to go crazy experimenting with soups. The incident last week involving steaming chowder, a sharp left turn, and a milky car has proved to be no deterrent.Potato Bacon Chowder
4 large baking potatoes, peeled, chopped into bite size chucks and boiled til fork-pierceable
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 cups milk
1 cup sour cream
1 med. onion chopped small
10 bacon strips cooked and loosely crumbled
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
fresh rosemary
Melt the butter in a deep soup pot over medium heat. Dump in the onions, and cook until translucent. Stir in the flour, salt, and pepper, and cook for about a minute. Whisk in the milk and bring just to a boil, then lower the heat and cook, stirring for about 3-4 minutes. Whisk in the sour cream. Mash half of the potatoes and keep the other half intact. Add all potatoes and bacon and cheese and heat until warmed through. Garnish with sprinkles of fresh rosemary.
Serves 6!
I am venturing to assert that roses can brighten anyone's office, even on the blahiest of days. These are from our tiny but enthusiastic "rose garden"-- the pink one being a "Chicago Peace?" I think?!? Or a"Love and Peace?" 
Last weekend we divided and replanted one bed of our Bearded Iris rhizomes. We had enough to spread to three other areas of the yard, plus about thirty that we had to give away! Next weekend we will probably be digging up the other beds, so if you would like some bearded iris bulbs, call us and claim some! They will be gorgeous in April!
I had the best birthday ever. 
We are SO relieved that these little babies are okay....they were both violently ill this weekend. I can't imagine what its like to have a sick child; sick kittens almost did me in.
My mother -in-law told me that you know you're addicted to quilting when you start scheming up new projects before the current one is complete. I guess I'm addicted; I can hardly wait to start another one... 
These photogrpahs are from Emily and Colby's wedding...so gorgeous! 
