Labor Day Weekend

I got up early on Saturday and started working on Alex's sweater while I caught up with some of my cooking shows.  This is Rachel Ray's "Thai Chicken Pizza" - it looks great and I am going to make it soon.I finished the back of the sweater and started on the front, but I am a little stumped - the directions are confusing so I am on hold until I ask my knitting friends.  I did start on the sleeves - so far, so good.  I have started a few other knitting projects - we will be headed to the Va Tech games for the next three weekends this month.  So I will have a lot of knitting time.  I will share soon.
I made a lemon cake for the start of college football - Dave is so ready!  The Hokies played Saturday night.  They lost to Alabama - it is going to be a interesting season.Dave had Salisbury Steak; I had ribs.Fresh, roasted asparagus - our favorite veggie.The cakes right out of the oven.  I love my broom tester - just pull out a whisk and test your cake.I think these will be our last veggies from the garden.  I just found the cobalt blue plate at a favorite antique mall in Petersburg.Dave's ready for the game.

It has been a great weekend.  I have enjoyed having 4 days off.  I got in the pool Friday and Saturday, but the water is very cool (74 degrees) - it is usually around 80.  The nights have been cooler and the water does not warm up.  It has been raining today off and on and it is too cool for the pool.  So, until next year my pool is covered.  I will miss it!

I made a new recipe for brunch this morning and it was a hit.  I got it from a blog I recently came across (http://philigry.blogspot.com/)  I had fresh blueberries on mine.  We also enjoyed mimosas.  (Amy you should try this for the kids, it is made the night before and very easy.  The Recipe:

French Toast Casserole

1/4 C. Butter

1/2 t Cinnamon

3 Eggs

1 t Vanilla

1/2 C Flour

3 T Sugar

1 Loaf of French Bread

2 & 1/4 C Milk

6 T Brown Sugar

1 C Blueberries

Beat eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla, cut up french bread into one inch slices, put in greased 9X13 pan and pour egg mixture over bread.  Refrigerate over night.  Preheat oven at 375, mix flour, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon to a crumbly mixture, sprinkle over top with blueberries.  Bake for 40 minutes.  (I put the berries on after cooking)

I have enjoyed our pool so much - I have gotten in it just about everyday.  I love laying on a raft and reading or listening to my IPOD and knitting.  It is very relaxing. 

This is a book I recently finished.  It was so good I couldn't put it down.  I am looking forward to reading this author's next book.

Views around our pool. 

This is a Angel Trumpet - I have tried to get this plant to grow for several years.  Success at last - these beautiful blooms are huge.

Amazing!

This is the next book on my "To Read List".  The same author of the book mentioned above.

Knitting and More Knitting

I love making baby hats.  I made a few for a co worker who had her first grandchild a week ago. 

I

I finished these and will show a completed picture when they arrive to the recipient.

I finished the back of my little guy's sweater and cast on for the front - now it gets a little harder.

The pattern is from this book:I

Aren't they cute?  The blue and green hats will be sent to Meg and Alex soon, so they will be ready for that cold weather in St. Louis.

Outside our home

We are enjoying some cooler weather this week.  I love to sit on the front porch in the late afternoon and look at the flowers and watch the hummingbirds.  This butterfly bush is huge!  I have trimmed it twice this this summer.  Bandit likes it on the porch too.I started this sweater for my little guy.  The back is almost finished.Dave is always busy - he can't sit still for long.Dave is adding lattice around the pool deck.Everything in the yard is looking a little rough, except for my herb garden.  It looks great.  Herbs do well in the 100 degree heat.

We have had a lot of hummingbird activity this year.  They are every where - they really like the new feeder we hung on the front porch.