Stitching

I am not finding a lot of time to stitch with all the car shows.  I have started 2 pieces since the Fair and am at least making progress albeit slow.

This is At Our House by Lizzie Kate.  This has always been a favorite verse and can't wait to have it stitched and framed to hang in my house.  I'm stitching this on a piece of 45 count L.L. Vintage Light Exemplar.  I was using the called for colors right up until the white would not show up on the fabric.  I've substituted DMC 3685 which is a shade of red.

I have also restarted - yes I said restarted - Mirabilia's Gathering Eggs.  I was 1/3 of the way done stitching 2 over 2 on 28 count but didn't like the look of it.  I am now stitching it 1 over 2 on a piece of 40 count dirty linen using the called for threads.  I like it so much better.  Can't wait to find more time to work on it.

My friend, Harriet and I found time on Friday for one last visit before moving from their town home.  We had so much catching up to do that the time just flew by.  Looking forward to our next visit in her new home.

Recipe

I was inspired yesterday to make something different for the picnic lunch I always pack to take along to car show.  The recipe was requested for this Orzo Salad so here you go.

Orzo Salad

I cut into large pieces the following veggies

Tomatoes

Onions

Zucchini

Yellow squash

Mushrooms

I then tossed them in olive oil with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.  I placed on a parchment lined cookie sheet and roasted in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour.  Really depends on the size of your pieces how long you bake. Mine were about an inch.

I also baked for chicken thighs in the oven at 375 degrees for an hour.  I took all chicken off the bone and cut up.

I boiled 1/2 cup orzo in salted water until done and then drained off water.

In a large bowled I combined roasted veggies, chicken, orzo and feta cheese.  To this I added 1/3 cup Olive Garden Italian dressing.  I encourage you to use your favorite vinergarette dressing.

You can eat this either cold (which we did for our picnic) but feel it would be equally yummy as a hot dish.

ENJOY!

Car Shows All Rolled Into One

There are still so many things and pics I want to share. It will do my best to control myself.

We've been attending a lot of car shows over the weekends and I have taken oodles of pictures.  It really has helped me to "get to know" my DSLR better and am consistently getting better photos.  My pictures of "things" are still better than my "people" photos but I have not given up hope yet.  To that end I have signed up to take a class in October to get to know my camera better.  Can't wait.

A new friend, Janice, asked me if I have always liked taking photos. I answered yes without giving it much thought. It was an honest answer as I've had a love of taking photos since I was very young.  Her question had me probing my memory and realized my mother started my love of photography.  When I was in elementary school, momredeemed her books of Regal stamps at the local HyVee in exchange for a Kodak camera.  This was my birthday gift that year.    What a lovely memory.

Favorites from car shows...

Grace Lutheran Fall Festival

We attend the annual Grace Lutheran Fall Festival on August 26.  It again was another enjoyable evening.  There were lots of people there we knew among the hundreds who attended.  A meal is provided and there are bouncy toys, horse rides and face painting to keep the kids entertained.  They are really good at keeping things on time as well.  In at 5:00 p.m. and out right at 8:00 p.m.

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the night.

Bill and Keith checking out something on the phone.

Not the original shot but what I cropped it down to.

This ended up being a double selfie - darn shiny cars.

This appears to be 1/2 a volkswagon bug

I love a corvair

This is a pretty rare Lincoln.

Cars are parked back to back for several rows.  Record entries this year.

We won a trophy this year.

Keith latched onto it and didn't let it go.

Yep, took it to bed with him as well.

Last Day of Fair Car Show

Normally I would be attending the Fair on the last day but this year friends who belong to the Unique Mustang Club were having their first ever sponsored show.  Bill, Keith and I decided to attend to support their show.  

I will say we have attended a lot of car shows this year together as a family.  It is a pretty low key and relaxing day.  You pretty much spend the day walking around looking at cars and talking to owners and sit around in groups in lawn chairs chatting the day away.  No laundry to do.  No house to clean.  Just enjoying the company of family and friends.

There is usually food available but options are limited so this year I've been packing a picnic lunch for us.  

My son and I.

Really nice paint on this Mustang.

Interior of a car.

Engine of same car.  I seem to photograph engines well.

Bill and Keith hanging out on the picnic blanket.

Host cars.

Camaros

Bill and Keith off to look at cars.

This little guy was comparing his model Camaro to ours.

Fair Results & Catching Up

FAIR RESULTS

It seems like September has been equally as busy as August this year.  I'm going to try and get a few posts done in rapid succession over the next few days to share my August and September with you.  Today I'm sharing my results from the Iowa State Fair competition and my days spent at the Fair with family and friends.  I decided to take advantage of my Collage App to keep the picture stroll to a minimum.

I was pleased to have been awarded 6 ribbons out of 7 entries this year.  I split evenly this year between 3rd and Honorable Mention.  I am not surprised there are no 1st or 2nd place ribbons this year as my projects were so much smaller and had no special things likes beads and metallics.  Still very excited to have 6 out of 7 of my pieces recognized.  

I think what was even better was that the comment cards on all pieces contained nothing but positive remarks.  I think this is the first time I have never had one critical remark.  

FAIR FUN

This collage has some other competition things I really enjoyed.  I thought the Best of Show crocheted table topper was amazing.  The upper right is a contest where everyone gets the same fabric and creates a quilt block.  Always so fun to see how different the squares are.  These squares will be used to make the quilt for next Fair's raffle.  I found the quilt with the scissors quite fun.

These are photos of food items around the Fair.  My cousin's son and I are standing next to the 1st place largest pumpkin this year (I promised I wouldn't put this photo on Facebook but didn't saying anything about my blog).   I caught them judging some of the vegetables.  The tomatoes looked good enough to eat but would have been a big no no.  The Floppy Show cake was amazing (you have to be from Iowa to remember Floppy).  I thought the sewing theme using fondant was very creative as well.

Here are a variety of other things I enjoyed at the Fair.  I love watching the activity around the midway.  Always fun to see the smiles on my guys' faces while riding the sky glider.  I love the judged flowers.  This year with the butter cow they did Monopoly in butter.  There is always the big sand sculpture and it would not be a Fair with out the Big Bull.  I couldn't resist the sleeping pig - he appeared to be smiling in his sleep.  We also were there for the Veteran's Day parade - the service man who attended my father's funeral and gave me the flag is part of this group.  I also caught a morning of horse shows as well.

This also appeared to be the year of quirky photo ops for me.  If there was one, I was volunteered for it.  I got behind the wheel of a fire truck, dressed and in a bucket for MidAmerican Energy and put in an oversized chair that made me feel like the Lily Tomlin character Edith Ann.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the Fair through my eyes.  There were tons more photos and things to do but there is only so much one can put in a post.

A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

On the 2nd to last day of the Fair I travelled South to Kansas City, MO to attend the 50th Anniversary gathering for this lovely couple.  They are my Aunt Marg and Uncle Larry and they are two of the loveliest people.  Whenever you are around them there is always laughter and joyful fun.  I also value that they are such wonderful listeners and offer such good advice and wisdom.  I love them dearly!

I did whip up this little piece to commemorate their special day.

The last day of the Fair which I am usually at was spent this year attending a first time car show for the Unique Mustang car club.  These car shows I've been attending with my husband and son have been a wonderful place to learn to use my new DSLR camera.  I will share some of my favorites next post.