Apple Hill -- Oh how I miss you.

There was a hint of fall crispness in the air this morning, just a hint.

And it made me miss Apple Hill CA

We used to take a drive there every fall when we lived in NV

We'd enjoy

a wagon ride

fresh apples (of course)

caramel apples with homemade caramel

the scenery

animals

each other

rolling down this one huge grassy hill at a farm

I'm really missing it today.

All pictures were taken fall 2007

Notice the sign in the background of this one?

I didn't see it until I got home and downloaded the pictures from the camera to the computer, then I got a good laugh.

Too Cute

Seriously, too CUTE!!!

My pinky child

(that's what my mom called me 'cause I'm the youngest...happens to fit my youngest too.)

starts ballet in a couple of weeks.

She's 3 1/2 so I think it will be more like Creative Movement rather than Ballet....

whatever...

She's just excited to dance

She is rhythm personified.

I think she may need these for her 4th B-day this winter.

What do you think?

Cupcake Toppers Here

Zucchini Recipe --- Zucchini Patties --- My favorite summer meal!

I love this time of year! Mostly because my husband's garden is starting to produce some really tasty vegetables. Believe it or not I enjoy zucchini.....particularly if they're picked before they get too big.

Growing up my mom always made these Zucchini Patties and I loved them then just as much as I do now.

I love them with sweet corn on the cob and a nice juicy watermelon.

Hands down my favorite summer meal!

I figured I'd share this summer treat with you and I hope you enjoy them too.

I wish my photography skills were a little better because I'm afraid I can't make them look as appetizing as they really are.

Zucchini Patties

2 small zucchini grated (about 2 cups)

4-6 eggs

1 sleeve crackers

1 1/2 cups grated cheese (Colby-jack is my favorite, my husband prefers pepper jack)

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Olive Oil

Grate the zucchini. I leave the skin on but you can peel it if you like. Also a food processor would work great for this but I don't have one.

Add eggs. I used 6 because I have a large family and the eggs were on the small side.

Mix the eggs and zucchini with a fork.

I use a whole sleeve of crackers, it may take a little more or a little less. You'll know when you have enough if your mixture resembles very thick pancake batter.

Crumble the crackers into your zucchini egg mixture.

Add 1/2 tsp kosher salt. At this point you can add onion and peppers too but my family prefers it without

Mix everything with a fork....see thick pancake batter.

Add the grated cheese.

Heat a gurgle of olive oil (about a Tablespoon) in a skillet on medium to medium low heat.

Place a large spoonful of the mixture in the skillet, again, very similar to pancakes.

Let cook until golden brown (about 2 minutes) flip and cook on the other side.

When both sides are golden serve with fresh salsa, corn and watermelon.

I really hope you love them as much as I do!

Dear First Day of School

Dear First Day of School,

I've known you were coming and usually I'm excited to see you but somehow you snuck up on me this year and I'm not that happy to have you in my life again.
Yes, that may sound harsh but it's the truth.
Maybe because having you here again means my kids are one year older, it could also mean I'm loosing my daytime entertainment for both me and Sweet Cheeks or it could mean I'm not happy to have daily schedules and early alarm clocks again.......I think it means you represent all of those things plus so many others that scare me.

I think you should know my kids were excited to have you around again. Why shouldn't they be? Having you here means they get to wear their new school clothes, they get to see their friends on a more regular basis and make new ones. And believe it or not they're excited to have daily access to the library, I'm afraid I failed them this summer when it came to getting them to the library as often as they'd like.

So here you are.....you've come and taken my children away from me, two to the Junior High School and two to the Elementary School for a few hours each day.

Please, be good to them, let them have good teachers, fill their day with laughs and excitement so we can celebrate the beginning of a new year with hugs and smiles when they get home.

I don't think that's too much to ask.

Sincerely,
Carol
AKA
Their Mother

Mountain Top Retreat

Our little family took some time to celebrate the last few days of summer freedom.

In the top of the mountains.

On some family land.

It was just us, a canoe, and the critters.

This was my first time all-out-roughing-it-no-bathroom-no-running-water-camping since I was little and to say I was scared would be putting it lightly.

But, no worries, it all worked out great!

And the kids loved it. Why wouldn't they?.....

Customized tinfoil dinners.....

Canoe-ing to their hearts content!......

 (this picture was taken over my shoulder because I was too scared the canoe would tip over if I turned around.)

Frogs!.......Buckets and buckets of frogs just waiting to be caught!.......every little boy's dream!...

Don't worry they all stayed at the reservoir....every mother's dream!

We even saw a water snake eat a frog.

A pack of Coyotes barking and howling on the other side of the reservoir was our sunrise alarm. That was a little unnerving. But we never saw them and didn't hear them any more after that. So, it's all good.

A beaver had made a lodge on one end of the reservoir and we got to see him swimming around sunset.

The boys tried to catch up with him in the canoe but no such luck.

And

I thought this wasp nest was amazing and huge!

My parents loaned us their dutch oven. We may have to invest in our own because it produced some pretty tasty food.

And

My mom even made us cookies to take with us.

I'd planned on making cookies but ran out of time but my mom saved the day.

She's always doing that!

Thanks mom!

Over all our expedition was a success.....more ultimate camping experiences in our future I'm sure!

Utility Apron Tutorial

I Love, love, love, this utility apron.
Perfect for teachers, crafters, gardeners, vendors, sewers, homemakers, children's church 
music leaders and so many more.

How do I use my utility apron?
When I'm cleaning up around the house one pocket is for little trash bits, one pocket is for things that need to go in another room, a smaller pocket on the side is for my phone and there are a couple more pockets for pens.
Perfect!

How does my sister use her apron?
She's a first grade teacher. She carries extra scissors, tape, markers, stamps, all those little things teachers always need to have on hand.

How will you use your utility apron?!!!

Let's get started!

Utility Apron Tutorial

Materials:

1/3 yard Fabric A: main part of apron

1/3 yard Fabric B: pocket

1/2 yard Fabric C: top of pocket and ties

Cutting:

From fabric A, cut

2 rectangles, 12" x 21"

From fabric B, cut;

2 smaller rectangles 6 1/2" x 21"

From fabric C, cut:

2 strips (ties) 6" x 41"

and

1 strip, 2" x 21"

Sew the Apron:

Pocket:

1. Using a 1/4" seam allowance and matching the 21"-long edges sew the fabric C strip (2" x 21") right sides together with one of the pocket rectangles (6 1/2" x 21")

Open up the pieces you just sewed and press the seam to one side.

Pin the other pocket rectangle to the other side of the 2" x 21" strip.

Sew, again using a 1/4" seam allowance.

Open and press the seam to one side.

Press on both the right and wrong sides of the fabric.

Fold your pocket section in half, wrong sides together and press.

Use a little bit of steam if you need to, to get a nice tight crease.

Top stitch 1/8" away from the seam.

Make sure to lengthen your stitch length to 3 or 4 to get a professional look on your top stitching.

Lay out one of the main apron rectangles (12" x 21") right side up.

Place your pocket on top of your main apron rectangle, right side up.

Match the raw edges at the bottom and sides.

Decide what you want to hold in your pockets and mark the stitch lines for each pocket accordingly.

Add 1/2" to each side pocket measurement for the seam allowance.

For example my pockets from left to right are

1 1/2"

7"

7"

5 1/2"

After marking your stitching lines attack your pocket and apron rectangle with pins (if you take a close look at the picture that's what it looks like I did)

Stitch over the lines you marked for the pockets.

Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of each line.

Apron:

Right sides together place the other apron rectangle on top of the apron rectangle with the pocket.

Pin the edges and place a few pins in the middle to keep the fabric from sliding.

Sew the sides and bottom with a 1/2" seam allowance.

Leave the top completely open for turning.

Clip the corners.

I like to angle them. This reduces the bulk so you can get a nice corner when you turn it.

Turn right side out.

Spray, with water, the lines you marked for the pockets.

Your water soluble marker will just disappear.

You want to do this before you press the apron because heat can set some water soluble markers(make the marker permanent).

Use a chopstick to poke out the corners.

Press.

Ties:

Pin the 6" side of the two tie sections together, right sides together, sew with a 1/2" seam allowance to make to create an 81" long strip.

Press the strip in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.

Unfold and turn the raw edges of the strip in to the center crease and press.

On the ends of the strip, fold the corners into the center crease at a 45 degree angle and press.

Refold the entire strip on the center crease and press the entire strip.

Find and mark the center, top point of the apron.

Open up the center fold of the tie and place it over the top raw edge of the apron. Sandwiching the apron in the tie.

Match the tie's center seam with the center point of the apron.

Pin in place.

Sewing as close to the edge as possible, stitch from the open edge of the tie at one end point all the way across the apron and to the opposite end of the tie.

This will close the open edges of the tie and attach it to the apron.

You're done!

That wasn't too bad was it!

Now, go, enjoy your apron!

You'll look FANTASTIC doing whatever you're doing in your apron. and you'll feel fantastic because you know you made it!!!!

P.S. Remember, if you don't want to make your own there's a couple in the shop.

Edit: If you're interested in an updated printable pdf version of this tutorial it's available in my Etsy shop  HERE

Best wishes!

Utility Aprons In the Shop

Green Pink and Brown Lattice with Stripes SOLD

Orange Full Moon Dot by Amy Butler SOLD

Utility Apron, Amy Butler Morning Glory and Dot, Slate and Cherry

The utility apron tutorial will be posted tonight.
In the mean time I've added a few aprons to the shop (click Here).
Just in case you don't feel like making your own.
These make great gifts! Think teachers, neighbors, house warming, etc.
3 available now, more to come soon!
BTW all of these aprons are ready to ship now!